LONDON: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has dropped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Saturday’s Premier League match against Southampton following a “disciplinary violation” by the Gabonese striker.
Club captain Aubameyang was not among the substitutes at the Emirates Stadium, as French striker Alexandre Lacazette took over the armband instead.
Aubameyang was reported to have been punished for failing to report to a training session on Friday.
In a pre-game interview on Arsenal’s Twitter account, Arteta said of Aubameyang’s absence: “Unfortunately (it) due to a disciplinary offense. We have been very constant, no negotiations and he is not involved today.”
When asked if it could be a longer term suspension, he added: “It starts today. It’s not an easy situation, a situation we want our club captain to be in that situation.”
Aubameyang has remained without a goal in his last six Arsenal games, scoring just seven times in all competitions this season.
The 32-year-old played only five minutes as a substitute in Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at Everton on Monday.
His last start was in their 3-2 defeat at Manchester United on December 2, when he was substituted on in the 79th minute despite Arsenal trying to equalize.
It’s not the first time that Aubameyang has not been on Arteta’s squad due to disciplinary issues.
After beating north London rivals Tottenham 2-1 in March, it was revealed that Aubameyang had broken pre-game protocols by arriving late at the club’s training ground in London Colney.
“He wanted to start the game, we had a disciplinary problem, we drew the line, we will continue,” Arteta told Sky Sports at the time.
Club captain Aubameyang was not among the substitutes at the Emirates Stadium, as French striker Alexandre Lacazette took over the armband instead.
Aubameyang was reported to have been punished for failing to report to a training session on Friday.
In a pre-game interview on Arsenal’s Twitter account, Arteta said of Aubameyang’s absence: “Unfortunately (it) due to a disciplinary offense. We have been very constant, no negotiations and he is not involved today.”
When asked if it could be a longer term suspension, he added: “It starts today. It’s not an easy situation, a situation we want our club captain to be in that situation.”
Aubameyang has remained without a goal in his last six Arsenal games, scoring just seven times in all competitions this season.
The 32-year-old played only five minutes as a substitute in Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at Everton on Monday.
His last start was in their 3-2 defeat at Manchester United on December 2, when he was substituted on in the 79th minute despite Arsenal trying to equalize.
It’s not the first time that Aubameyang has not been on Arteta’s squad due to disciplinary issues.
After beating north London rivals Tottenham 2-1 in March, it was revealed that Aubameyang had broken pre-game protocols by arriving late at the club’s training ground in London Colney.
“He wanted to start the game, we had a disciplinary problem, we drew the line, we will continue,” Arteta told Sky Sports at the time.
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