Ian Wright has admitted it was embarrassing for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to be substituted at half-time of Arsenal’s clash with Chelsea on Tuesday.

Ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Arsenal this week, interim manager Frank Lampard made the strange decision to start Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

It was Aubameyang’s first start in the Premier League since November, when Chelsea faced Arsenal at home, losing 1-0.

The most the striker had played in any league game since then was when he was substituted on in the fifth minute against Manchester City in January, only to be taken off again in the second half.

Yet despite Aubameyang’s lack of consistent minutes, Lampard chose him to start against the Gunners, admitting that the narrative of a return to his former club was part of his thinking.

“We all think sometimes a player going back to their old club gives a certain motivation,” Lampard said ahead of the game.

45 minutes later, Lampard had seen enough. Chelsea were 3-0 down, and Aubameyang was taken off having failed to have an impact on the proceedings.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright admitted he felt sorry for the striker at that stage.

“I feel for him. Coming back to Arsenal, it’s a bit embarrassing for him (to get substituted at half-time),” Wright said.

There’s no doubt that players want to be out on the pitch as much as possible, and they need regular minutes to perform at their best, but Lampard effectively hung Aubameyang out to dry on this one.

If you hardly pick a player at all, then throw him in against one of the best teams in the league for questionable reasons, then take him off at the first opportunity, how is that meant to help him or the team?

As Wrighty says, it’s embarrassing, and Lampard hasn’t done anything to help his player here.