Arsenal training ground choice hints at Arteta U-turn on Aubameyang

Former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has missed the last five games and is now set to be absent for the majority of January after joining up with Gabon for the AFCON

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If any further indication of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s current standing in the Arsenal squad was needed, it was given this week.

The former captain hasn’t played since being stripped of the captaincy at the start of December, following an alleged breach of the club’s disciplinary rules.

And what was once anticipated to be a short-term exclusion, is now at danger of being something substantially more significant.

In the last month, he has been axed from Mikel Arteta’s squad and is reportedly training away from the rest of his team-mates.

Arteta has been consistently vague over when the striker will return to his lineup, aided by the fact that their brilliant run of form has eased any pressure to prematurely reintroduce him.

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Speaking after his exclusion against Norwich City on Boxing Day, the Spaniard said: “We’ll take it game by game. That was the decision.”

But any ongoing assessment has now been put on the back burner after Arsenal agreed Aubameyang could join up with the Gabon squad early.

Still captain of his national side, the forward will be looking to guide his nation to a first ever Africa Cup of Nations crown.

Aubameyang is due to fly out to Dubai where he will join some of the Gabon players for a pre-tournament training camp.

Their competition doesn’t get underway until January 10, but Arteta clearly had no plans to play him before then.

Players competing in the AFCON do not have to join their respective nations until January 3, with the likes of Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny and Nicolas Pepe all sticking in north London for the game against Manchester City on New Year’s Day.

The fact Aubameyang wasn’t even required at London Colney is a damning indictment of his lowly position in the current pecking order.

Reports have claimed that Aubameyang is assessing his options ahead of the January window and while Arteta hasn’t commented specifically on his future, he did send a telling message to his squad – shape up or get out.

“I don’t establish my authority by being dictatorial or being ruthless,” Arteta said earlier this month.

“I just ask for respect and commitment. At this level, if I don’t get that I pack my bags and go somewhere else because that is the minimum I can ask for.

“I am sorry but I am going to expect that from everybody who works for the club. First of all myself, and the day I don’t do that I walk through that door and go and do something else. It is as clear as that.”

Arteta was adamant that Aubameyang’s status was being taken on a game-by-game basis, but the willingness to allow him to leave for more than a month, shows his position is even more perilous than previously expected.