Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will not feature against Southampton this weekend after he sat out training on Friday.
The Gabon international was dropped by Mikel Arteta ahead of their 2-1 loss to Everton on Monday night, coming on as a substitute and missing a glorious chance to equalise deep into stoppage time.
And Goal report that Arteta will be without his captain for the visit of the Saints on Saturday.
Aubameyang missed Arsenal’s last training session before facing Southampton, and though the reason for his absence has not been confirmed, Goal speculate that he is ill. The Gunners refused to comment on why their captain was not at their London Colney training centre on Friday.
Arteta had been asked if there had been a rift between himself and Aubameyang earlier in the week, but he insisted that their relationship was fine.
“I have a very good relationship with my players,” Arteta said. “Everyone has to understand that I always do the best for this club and for this team. And often if that can benefit any individuals, I will always do it.
“The decisions are not personal, the decisions are just to get performance, and the best out of the team. That’s it.”
Aubameyang has endured a challenging start to the 2021/22 campaign, registering just four goals in 12 Premier League games.
Since signing a bumper new contract in the summer of 2020, Aubameyang has failed to live up to expectations – his tally of 10 league goals last year was his lowest since 2011.
Arsenal currently sit seventh in the table, but could rise to fifth if they beat Southampton and Manchester United fail to beat Norwich on Saturday.