Mikel Arteta and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have agreed that the striker needs to focus on the Africa Cup of Nations with Gabon before considering a return to the Arsenal squad.
The Gunners boss addressed the forward’s situation during his press conference on Friday, via quotes by football.london. Aubameyang has not featured in one of Arteta’s sides since the Spaniard stripped the striker of Arsenal’s captaincy after his latest disciplinary breach.
He has now missed the Emirates Stadium natives’ last four Premier League fixtures and the Carabao Cup quarter-final with Sunderland. Arsenal have scored 19 goals over the five ties, including 14 in the top-flight with seven different players also scoring.
Arteta will again omit Aubameyang when Arsenal host Manchester City on Saturday. The Gunners have not beaten the table-toppers in the top-flight since 2015, while losing 10 of their next 12 meetings. They also last took a point with a 2-2 draw in north London in 2017.
Aubameyang has instead already reported for AFCON duty and is now training with Gabon in Dubai, per Goal. He may not return until after the tournament concludes on February 6.
Arteta shares agreement with Aubameyang over Arsenal situation
Arteta again stressed that he is taking Aubameyang’s availability for Arsenal one game at a time during his press duties. He also noted they agreed that he needed to focus on AFCON.
“For me, it’s not about being right or wrong,” Arteta said. “It’s about making the decisions that you believe are a consequence of what you’re asking them to do.
“As I said, we’ll go game by game. At the moment he’s gone. He needs to focus on the national team. We had the conversation that that was the best way to do it.”
Arteta will hope time away from Arsenal helps Aubameyang refocus and will return from AFCON ready to regain his place. He will not want the Gabon striker to come back to north London next year and disrupt the dressing room.
Reports by football.london earlier in the month noted Arteta asked Aubameyang to train away from the squad to avoid having a player he was not using mixing with his regulars. The Gunners would also be open to the forward leaving in the January transfer window.
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