Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is delighted with the impact of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this season.

The Gabon striker has returned to form this term with four goals in his last six top-flight games. And Arteta admits Aubameyang is thriving as captain of Arsenal's young side following conversations he held with the 32-year-old in the summer.

"Obviously when you have a season where as a team and individually we haven't fulfilled our expectations, we have to find the reasons why," explained Arsenal boss Arteta. "How we can change, how we can improve, how we can help him to improve certain things that are going to have a huge impact on the team.

"He's been so willing to lead from the start and I'm so pleased because his role is different to the one that he had two or three years ago. Now he needs to lead in every sense and he's doing that and I'm really happy with it.

"I think he is enjoying it and as you can see on the pitch, he is playing with a smile on his face. He is transmitting energy, passion, willingness – not only on the pitch but outside the pitch as well.

"That's what we want. A happy Auba is linked with his character and that's what he's able to transmit to everybody. That energy is always positive for the team."