Arsenal’s Aubameyang Update Sets Stage for Gabriel Martinelli

Mikel Arteta has provided an update on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s availability for Arsenal after the captain left the recent FA Cup squad early to deal with a personal matter.

Hours before Saturday’s 1-0 defeat on the south coast, the 31-year-old left his teammates to travel home for an undisclosed reason, one that was simply described as personal.

Runar Alex Runarsson took his place in the matchday squad for the loss, a fixture that Arsenal are seeking revenge for as they are back at St. Mary’s for midweek Premier League action.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has rightly been given time off to see to the matter, and with a huge clash on the horizon Mikel Arteta was asked about his potential availability against Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Arsenal boss Mikel Artea provides an update on Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng that sets the stage for Gabriel Martinelli

"“Of course it will be a problem because he is a top striker, one who scores [a lot of] goals and he is our captain, a really important player in the team,” the Spaniard told the official Arsenal website.“But we have to respect the timings, let’s see – I don’t have enough information to see how things are evolving and hopefully things will go in the right direction.”"

The captain’s importance off the field is something that is only disclosed through his fellow teammates, whereas on the pitch his own recent struggles have seen that influence wane. Finally starting to see glimpses of the ‘old Aubamayeng’ back though, his loss will be felt.

Whatever the issue is the club and its fans are right behind him, with his likely absence setting the stage for Gabriel Martinelli.

Still understandably lacking his usual sharpness, in his three starts this season he’s nonetheless demonstrated that his fighting spirit and boundless energy never dropped a level.

It may not be until next season where supporters are able to see the best of Martinelli. Given the style of footballer he is in terms of carrying the ball with pace and dribbling with either foot, all those technical qualities require time to embed themselves one again into competitive fixtures.

Against what will be a weakened right-back position on Tuesday, Martinelli has the chance to do what he does best: bully. His work-rate is exemplary, his actions are all made with instinct born out of a natural intelligence that leaves defenders without a second to adjust or contemplate their actions.

Even at 60% he offers what most other forwards in the squad don’t, and Tuesday provides a platform for him to express those characteristics. Not at his best yet, his sheer enthusiasm and desire will make for an intriguing contest.

All the darting runs he made in the first half of the FA Cup defeat can be tended to through Thomas Partey‘s vision and Emile Smith Rowe’s offensive triangles, while he may actually receive a pass in the first half from his No. 10 this time.

Full of confidence as is, Martinelli won’t need a goal at St. Mary’s to bring his sharpness back, just playing regularly will see that return. Aubameyang’s presence will be missed, not least as he’s finding the back of the net now, but Brazilian exuberance against a questionable Yan Valery may be the start of the path towards the 19-year-old who left English football smitten last season.