Arsenal have lost all three of their Premier League games this season and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the club captain, probably felt a tinge of relief when he left for international duty recently.
It’s been a shocking start to the new season for Mikel Arteta’s side, who are bottom of the table and haven’t even scored a Premier League goal yet, conceding nine.
So when Aubameyang jetted back to Africa for World Cup qualifiers, you could forgive the Arsenal striker if he looked forward to halting the domestic calendar for a couple weeks.
But there was more misery for the 32-year-old hitman with his native Gabon last night.
Second-half substitute Jim Allevinah looked like giving Gabon all three points with a goal on 73 minutes, but Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, who played the final 20 minutes with 10 men, forced a farcical last-ditch equaliser through Mostafa Mohamed.
Aubameyang wrote on Twitter after the game: “It hurts after all these chances!!! Life is a fight and our team will fight again and again.”
And here’s how some Arsenal fans responded to their striker:
Aubameyang, who scored a hat-trick in a EFL Cup drubbing of West Brom last month, could inspire the North Londoners to a first win next weekend, after the break.
The Emirates Stadium plays host as newly-promoted Norwich City come to visit.
It’s no secret that Arsenal have been shocking but they could, in theory, run through the Canaries. Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and Thomas Partey may make their returns and that ought to help Arteta’s side, but only in defence.
In attack, Aubameyang, who only managed 15 goals in all competitions last season, still has a responsibility to find the net but, against Norwich, he’ll fancy his chances.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
