Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was left out of Arsenal’s squad at the weekend after being given permission by the club to fly to France only to stay longer than agreed.
Mikel Arteta created headlines on Saturday when he left the Arsenal captain out of the team that beat Southampton, refusing to expand on the decision beyond citing a ‘disciplinary breach’.
It has now been revealed by The Athletic that Aubameyang left the UK on Tuesday and flown to France to visit his mother and bring her back to London to stay with him.
Arsenal were accommodating of the request and granted him permission, with the Spanish coach very understanding when it comes to family matters.
But, it was under the proviso that he return the next day, on Wednesday, but instead he stayed an extra night and flew back to the UK on Thursday morning.
Although he arrived in time for training that day, the Gunners felt he had taken advantage of their kindness, while it also resulted in a problem over Covid-19 protocols.
Aubameyang underwent a test in France before his flight and felt that would be sufficient to join training, but current guidance says that he needed a PCR test in England before returning to London Colney.
He was now sent home on Thursday and then ordered not to report to training on Friday, before being left out of the entire team against Southampton.
Although the infraction was minor, Arsenal and Arteta are very clear on such matters and the club’s manager felt Aubameyang – who has breached other rules in the past – needed to face consequences.
However, He was vindicated by Arsenal’s win over Southampton, in which replacement Alexandre Lacazette got on the scoresheet.
Aubameyang has now returned to training and is expected to be back in the squad that plays West Ham on Wednesday, though his latest misdemeanour, however minor, has created more question marks over his suitability as skipper.
