The Gunners’ manager declined to say if Gabon star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be eligible for the next Arsenal match as the striker’s banishment continues.
What did Arteta say about Aubameyang?
Pierre-Emerick was not considered for Wednesday’s qualifier as the Gunners beat West Ham 2-0 at Emirates Stadium to jump into the top four. It was the second straight game Pierre-Emerick missed in a week that saw him stripped of the club captaincy following a misconduct.
After defeating the Hammers, the head coach was asked if Pierre-Emerick would play in the next Gunners match. Mikel Arteta replied that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was not eligible for this game and that’s it. This game is gone. they will discuss it shortly.
Mikel also praised their side’s response amid a tumultuous week, saying they were fully focused. They wanted to show how strong they are as a team. The performance, the attitude and the commitment shown today are exactly what they are as a club. According to Arteta, he expects this from every player – to adhere to their values. they’ll talk about Pierre-Emerick another day. Today Arteta wants to talk about the game.
A little about the topic
Mikel initially dropped the striker for the Gunners’ match against Southampton over the weekend after he was absent from training on Friday. Following the 3-0 win over the Saints, Arsenal issued a statement that the Gabon star has been stripped of the club’s captaincy and will also not be considered for selection against the Hammers.
In a statement, Mikel said the decision they made as a club was very clear. Precisely because they believe that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was not committed to the level that they all expect and agree with. According to Mikel Arteta, this commitment and passion should be there. Unfortunately, it was not. The Gunners will next be in action against Leeds on Saturday as they hope to solidify their grip on a top four spot.