Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta Drops Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang For Leeds Clash

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is unavailable for selection for Arsenal’s game against Leeds on Saturday after being stripped of the club captaincy earlier this week.


In a statement released by the Gunners on Tuesday, it was announced that the Gabon international would no longer be skipper due to his ‘latest disciplinary breach’.

It has been reported that Aubameyang recently returned to the UK late after being given permission to fly to France to visit his mother, while the striker has also missed matches and training in the past.

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The 32-year-old was consequently left out of the squad for the win over West Ham on Wednesday, and will not make his return to face Marcelo Bielsa’s side this weekend.

‘No, he’s not available for selection,’ said Arteta on Friday.

When pressed on whether the striker has a future at the north London club, Arteta reiterated: ‘For this game, he’s not available for selection.’

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The Spanish boss is planning on leaning on his leadership group – including Alexandre Lacazette and Granit Xhaka – until a new captain is selected.

‘We have the leadership group and we think that we have different players that are nominated to be captain,’ explained the Gunners boss earlier this week.

‘In the last game it was Laca and we have Granit as well who has been captain so we will follow that.

‘Obviously, it is a really unpleasant situation and it is not the moment to make any rash decision.

‘That leadership group is really strong, it is the one that communicates with myself and the coaching staff and then with the club in a really clear and strong way.’Mikel Arteta

Photo Credit: Getty

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