Arsenal will be without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for their Premier League clash against Manchester City at the Emirates on New Year’s Day.
The 32-year-old has not featured for the Gunners since being stripped of the club captaincy after another “disciplinary breach” three weeks ago, and has been made to train on his own, according to reports.
In his absence, Mikel Arteta’s side have been on a fine run of form, winning all five of their matches and scoring 19 goals in the process.
And now it seems as though they are set to be without Aubameyang for yet another match after he travelled to Dubai to join up with Gabon’s national squad ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Gunners are set to miss several members of their playing and coaching staff for their Premier League clash with Pep Guardiola’s side on New Year’s Day.
According to football. London, an agreement had been reached to allow players chosen to play in the AFCON to stay with their clubs until January 3rd if they had official matches, which means that Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny, and Nicolas Pepe are all set to be available for the game against City, despite being included in their respective nations’ provisional squads for the tournament.
However, Aubameyang was allowed to leave London early to join up with his national team.
Arteta has refused to comment on Aubameyang’s future specifically, however, he did indicate that the forward had fallen short of the standards he expects for players at the club.
“I don’t establish my authority by trying to be dictatorial or ruthless. I just ask for one thing, it’s respect and commitment,” the Spaniard said. “That’s all.
“I don’t establish my authority by trying to be dictatorial or ruthless. I just ask for one thing, it’s respect and commitment,” the Spaniard said. “That’s all.
“If you don’t ask for that at this level I think I pack my bags and go somewhere else because that’s the minimum that you can ask for.
“I’m sorry but I’m going to expect that from everyone at the club, the first one myself,” he added when asked about the deterioration of the Aubameyang situation.
“The second I don’t do that I go through that door and I do something else. It’s as clear as that.
