Arsenal stripped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang captain of the club and let him play in Wednesday’s Premier League game against West Ham following a “disciplinary breach”.
The 32-year-old man was left out win 3-0 on Saturday Southampton sources have told ESPN he has returned late from a sanctioned break, although both the club and manager Mikel Arteta declined to confirm the specific nature of the incident when questioned. question at that time.
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A statement published on Arsenal’s website on Tuesday morning read: “Following his latest disciplinary breach last week, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will no longer be our club captain, and will not be considered for the match against West Ham United.
“We expect all of our players, especially our captain, to work to the rules and standards that we have set and agreed to. We are completely focused on the game. fight tomorrow.”
Arteta will hold a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, at which he is expected to name Aubameyang’s successor and explain the situation in more detail.
It wouldn’t be the first instance of Aubameyang’s poor timekeeping causing internal problems. In March, he was give up for the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur after arriving late for a team meeting on match day.
A month earlier, the club had to speak to Aubameyang to “remind him of his responsibilities” after footage emerged of him getting a new tattoo despite strict COVID-19 protocol measures. strict.
While sources told ESPN COVID-19 was not a major aspect of his most recent breach, Aubameyang’s delay in returning to the club could potentially affect safety measures. club, especially at a time when Premier League guidelines have been tightened in response to the Omicron Variant spreading across the UK.
The situation will also raise many questions about Arteta’s relationship with Aubameyang and the striker’s future at the club.
Aubameyang signed a new three-year, £250,000-a-week contract in September 2020 but has endured an alarming drop in form without scoring since October 22.
Asked by ESPN on Friday about rumors of a rift with Aubameyang, Arteta replied: “I have a very good relationship with my players. People have to understand that I always do what’s best for the club and This team. And often if it can benefit any individual, I will always. Decisions are not personal, decisions are just for performance and It’s in the best interest of the team.
“Obviously, when a player doesn’t score, it affects his confidence, it affects his mood and perhaps belief, but you have to rebel against this situation, don’t accept it. it and feel sorry for myself.”
Pushed about whether Arsenal would consider allowing Aubameyang to leave, Arteta added: “Really, we’ve never discussed something like this, and when players get in trouble – or the team is in trouble – something we have to support.”
Aubameyang’s demotion is another difficult day in Arsenal’s recent history after his predecessor Granite Xhaka was stripped of the captaincy by former manager Unai Emery after telling Arsenal fans “f — off” when he was booed as a substitute during the Premier League game Crystal Palace in October 2019.
Xhaka inherits the role from Laurent Koscielny, who went on strike while the club captain was forced to switch to Bordeaux two years ago.
