Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goes into Arsenal’s game against Everton on Monday night amid a swirl of speculation regarding his future and questions being asked by Arsenal fans.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has seven goals, and two assists, in 14 games this season but with only four of those goals coming in the league, and Arsenal struggling to score in that competition, questions are being asked about the forward.

Ahead of the game against Everton, which could see Arsenal close the gap on fourth to just a single point, Mikel Arteta was asked about his mis-firing front-man.

“You are always [concerned] when your main striker isn’t scoring goals but he is trying his hardest,” Arteta said.

“He is aware of how much we need him as a team to score goals and, at the moment, they are not coming but the rest of the things we are asking him to do, he is trying his best.”

“What I said is that the senior players are the ones who have to lead and the younger players are the ones who have to follow,” he added.

“We need that balance in the performances on the pitch and as well off the field. We are getting that balance right and we have to continue not to rely too much on the rest and this is a team, it’s not two teams that are split, and we need that balance and to manage those moments.

“First of all [I will] keep demanding the best from everybody and ask them for things they can do and they can do well, and do well consistently – and that’s what I try to do all the time.”