Arsenal football club have confirmed that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is no longer the captain of the north London club after committing a disciplinary breach.
The 32-year-old Gabonese striker would not also be selected for the Premier League game between Arsenal and West Ham United scheduled to kick-off at 21:00 on Wednesday, December 15, 2021.
Recall that the football star was used as a late-minute substitute in Arsenal’s league game against Everton on December 6. The game ended 2-1 in favor of Everton.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was dropped from the squad that played against Southampton on December 11. In his absence, Arsenal beat Southampton 3-0.
Also read: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang must have offended coach Mikel Arteta of Arsenal
Before the game, reporters asked Arsenal’s coach, Mikel Arteta, while the club’s captain was dropped from the squad. The Spanish coach said the football star had to be dropped because he committed a disciplinary breach.
Earlier today, Arsenal issued a short statement on the club’s official website to announce that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would no longer be the club’s captain and would not play against West Ham United due to the same disciplinary breach.
The club’s statement read: “Following his latest disciplinary breach last week, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will no longer be our club captain, and will not be considered for selection for Wednesday’s match against West Ham United.
“We expect all our players, particularly our captain, to work to the rules and standards we have all set and agreed.
“We are fully focused on tomorrow’s match.”
An update on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 14, 2021
Here is the disciplinary breach Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang committed that cost him Arsenal’s captaincy
When Aubameyang was dropped from the squad that faced Southampton last weekend, the coach of the club, Mikel Arteta failed to confirm the disciplinary breach the Gabonese striker committed.
However, a report by The Athletic claimed that Aubameyang was permitted to travel to France last week to bring his sick mother to England.
The Premier League club directed him to return to England latest on Wednesday but the Gabon international decided to return to London on Thursday, two days before the league game against Southampton.
Hence, he missed the time scheduled for him to undergo his routine coronavirus test which he ought to take before the Thursday training session.
When he finally did the test on Thursday and joined up with the team on Friday, he was asked to train at home.
Hence, missing the Southampton game was not deemed enough punishment for Aubameyang who used to be the club’s talisman. He has to miss more games and also lose his captaincy.
