Martin Odegaard has urged his Arsenal teammates to step up on the goalscoring front following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure.

Former Arsenal captain Aubameyang left the club for Barcelona in the January transfer window, after having the club captaincy taken away from him for a string of disciplinary incidents.

Mikel Arteta’s have had mixed fortunes in front of goal in Aubameyang’s absence, scoring freely in December but struggling for goals since then.

Martin Odegaard believes the team still have the qualities required to score plenty of goals, but he insists it has to be a team effort, with no single player taking on Aubameyang’s goalscoring duties alone.

“I think it is the team’s job to make sure we score goals,” Odegaard said. “It is not up to one or two players.

“I think everyone needs to help each other and create chances for each other, and help each other in front of the goal.

“I am sure we have the qualities in this team to score many goals. Of course, it’s an area we want to improve and we have to do a little bit better – but I am sure we have the quality in the team and the way we play. I am sure we will create chances, so I don’t see it as a problem.

“I think it is always sad when players leave the club, but that is up to the manager and the club to do those kinds of things.

“Then we have to focus on the players that are here and I think we have a strong group, and an interesting team.”

Widespread reports suggest Arsenal plan to sign a new striker in the summer, with the bulk of the transfer budget set to be allocated to centre-forward and central midfield.

In the meantime, Arsenal have no remaining option but to work with what they have.

If they want to make the best centre-forward signing possible, they need to finish in the top-four, securing Champions League football and the money associated with it. For that, they need plenty of goals between now and May.