The reason why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was dropped from Arsenal’s matchday squad for the Southampton game on Saturday has been revealed. The club captain was notably absent from Mikel Arteta’s teamsheet, but the manager chose not to disclose exactly why the 32-year-old had been omitted.
Mikel Arteta said: “Unfortunately due to a disciplinary breach. I think we have been very consistent that we have certain non-negotiables in the team that we have set ourselves as a club, and he’s not involved today, Certainly, it’s not an easy situation, a situation that we want our club captain to be in.”
The incident brought back memories from last season, when Aubameyang was dropped to the bench for the North London Derby victory in March after he arrived late to a first-team meeting. What Arteta said before and after the derby has hinted at how his skipper may be treated now.
Mikel Arteta said: “We have drawn the line and we move on. He’s on the bench. We have a process that we have to respect for every game and that’s it. It is a decision made after evaluating everything, and who Auba is and what’s he done and that’s it.”
However, Aubameyang was restored to the starting XI and regained the armband for the Gunners’ very next game, the 1-0 loss to Olympiakos in the Europa League. While Arteta did not go into much detail, he did comment on the Gabon international returning to action ahead of the tie.
Mikel Arteta said: “We talked, everything has been resolved in a positive way so we move forward.”
By this reckoning, Aubameyang’s absence from the squad will not be for long, but given this is his second offence, and his form of late has been sub-par, Arteta may not start the talisman for some time.
