Aubameyang returns to Arsenal from AFCON over health scare

Missing four players this month as they take part in AFCON, Arsenal have only played two matches without the quartet, but it feels like it’s been a lot longer.

In the case of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, it has. For all the reliance and expectancy of him being in the No. 9 position every week, his time away from the first team is as if the ties have already been cut.

Fans have moved on, Mikel Arteta clearly has too with work underway to sign his replacement, Dusan Vlahovic, this summer, and the former captain is unlikely to foresee an amicable route back.

Allowed to depart for AFCON earlier than his teammates, Aubameyang was yet to feature for Gabon in either of their opening two matches. Contracting Covid while away in Dubai before the tournament ruled him out of the first group match, and then a late medical scare saw him not involved in the 1-1 draw with Ghana.

https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1482991085790060545

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returns to Arsenal from AFCON over health scare as former captain suffers cardiac lesions as a result of COVID

Cardiac lesions were detected in a medical check prior to matchday two. Gabon’s coach Patrice Neveu revealed that the virus has left some residue on the MRI tests, so as per protocol neither Aubameyang nor teammate Mario Lemina were involved. The hope was that the pair would be involved against Morocco on Tuesday.

As per The Athletic it was under consideration that Aubameyang could return to Arsenal while reviews continue over his condition and the prognosis, even if it was felt early on that there were no plans for his tournament to be cut short. However, speaking to Goal later on Monday, Neveu confirmed that the striker returned to north London on their decision.

"“Since yesterday, the decision was taken to send them home to their club,” Neveu said, referring to Aubameyang and teammate Mario Lemina. “We can’t judge it here [in Cameroon], we can’t assess the pathology of Covid here.“It’s important that Mario returns to Nice and Pierre returns to Arsenal,” he added. “It’s a decision that we’ve taken among ourselves.”"

In terms of his Arsenal future, the club are still open to offers this month, but their efforts to move him on won’t be helped by him being sidelined for Gabon with health issues. While not thought to be serious, thankfully, it may sway some clubs away from signing him that little bit more.

It’s hard to envisage a way back for him in the team, and while returning early from AFCON was not part of the plans, it may help the club to move him on this window. So long as he is fit and healthy, of course.