Unai Emery has backed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to improve on his Premier League Golden Boot-winning tally from last season after getting off the mark with Arsenal's winning goal against Newcastle United.
After a largely forgettable first half in which Newcastle were slightly the better side, Arsenal eased to a comfortable three points thanks to Aubameyang's 58th-minute strike at St James' Park.
A sloppy pass was intercepted by Ainsley Maitland-Niles inside his own half and he burst forward before picking out Aubameyang who took a sublime touch before guiding a cool finish beyond advancing keeper Martin Dubravka.
Aubameyang scored 22 League goals last season to share the Golden Boot with Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, though that success was tempered by the fact that the Gunners finished fifth in the table.
Asked if he believes Aubameyang can score more than that this term, Emery told reporters: "Yes. Our idea is to continue being one team, mostly offensive. But we need to also take the balance defensively. Today we started well and the next week is going to be another challenge for us.
"A clean sheet, but first to win and to create a big spirit as a team, a big spirit in the Emirates. To win away we know is difficult in each match. Today we struggled but we deserved it."
Emery reaffirmed his desire for Arsenal to work hard from back to front this season, saying: "We want to start defending with Aubameyang and we want to start attacking with Bernd Leno.
"We need to create good combinations, good situations, to create chances and after each player has his quality to score, to do the pass, the assist and to do the job defensively.
"Aubameyang is our scorer, with [Alexandre] Lacazette, with [Nicolas] Pepe, with Reiss Nelson, with Micki (Henrikh Mkhitaryan) and other players.
"And really, today I think every player worked very well. He scored, Aubameyang, but I think it was because every player worked together."
In Pictures | Premier League top scorers 2019-20 season
Additional reporting by Reuters.
