Arsenal title winner Alan Smith insists Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's poor form has nothing to do with his new contract.

Smith believes Aubameyang's struggles in front of goal are reflective of the Gunners' failings as a whole rather than his new £250,000-a-week deal.

"He's only human," he told Sky Sports. "He comes across as a really happy guy, whose confidence would be difficult to knock. He has great confidence in his ability. But you can see he has been affected by his overall game. He's been lacklustre.

"Some people point to him signing his new bumper contract and his form falling off the edge of a cliff, but I'd be reluctant to say that has been an influence.

"He does strike me as someone who lives for goals, but I'd be surprised if he's eased off because he's signed his new contract.

"His form is a symptom of Arsenal's lack of form going forward.

"Mikel Arteta had to change the way they played, he had to make them more robust, harder to play against, more solid at the back."