Arsenal make unsurprising Aubameyang future decision

The future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal is up in the air after the striker was stripped of the captaincy following the latest in a long line of disciplinary breaches.

Left out of the squad that beat Southampton 3-0, an announcement of the decision was then revealed prior to the 2-0 victory over West Ham, which he once again did not participate in.

Arsenal are clearly deeply hurt by the string of misdemeanours by the 32-year-old, as evidenced by their statement, and it was revealed by the manager more recently that he would remain exempt from the squad for Saturday’s clash with Leeds.

There are only three more matches to come in December prior to the start of AFCON, a competition that Aubameyang is to take part in as he captains his nation of Gabon. With it uncertain whether or not he would be seen before jetting off to Cameroon, it’s now been revealed that the punishment is set to continue.

Arsenal make unsurprising Aubameyang future decision with former captain training alone and not due to play until for Gunners after AFCON

As per the Telegraph, Aubameyang is no longer training with the rest of his Arsenal teammates and is expected to work on his fitness alone with a specialised regime until the time arrives to jet off to AFCON. The former skipper was seen arriving at London Colney a full one and a half hours before the rest of his teammates earlier on Friday.

Aubameyang hasn’t refused to train or gone on strike, but he is not expected to play for the club again, if indeed he ever will, until after the tournament, which runs from January 9 to February 6, or until Gabon are eliminated.

The majority of Premier League players were due to depart for AFCON at the latest possible date to help with their respective clubs’ congested fixture schedule, whereas Aubameyang will now be allowed to depart at the earliest possible opportunity.

Clubs have been said to register an interest in signing the centre-forward during the winter window, Barcelona among them despite having no money, with the timing of AFCON awkward for all parties to work on a potential deal. It’s unlikely anyone can afford his astronomical wages, or indeed that he would be willing to take a pay cut.

When he does return is when the situation will be reviewed, although him not even training with his teammates for the remainder of the calendar year suggests that Arsenal’s stance is one of real anger, and therefore near irreparable.

However, it’s not surprising. The way Arteta has spoken about it in his press conferences confirmed his displeasure and seemed to offer no tangible route back into the team for the striker, at least in the short-term. It would have been a surprise to see him back in red and white before the new year.

It’s increasingly difficult to see a way back at all for Aubamayeng. But then again, it’s even tougher to see where he could possibly depart to.