Arteta explains Aubameyang absence for Arsenal vs Southampton

The Gunners skipper is out of the matchday squad for the club’s latest Premier League match.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has dropped Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang due to a disciplinary breach.

After being relegated to the bench in the 2-1 defeat at Everton on Monday, Aubameyang is out of the squad altogether for Saturday’s Premier League match against Southampton at the Emirates.

The Gabonese star’s status was in doubt after reportedly missing training on Friday for unknown reasons.

🗣 "Unfortunately due to a disciplinary breach."

Mikel Arteta explains why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not in the Arsenal squad today pic.twitter.com/Je1cIvm5oA

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) December 11, 2021

“Unfortunately [Aubameyang isn’t playing] due to a disciplinary breach,” said Arteta before kick-off.

“I think we’ve been very consistent, there are some non-negotiables on the team that we have set ourselves and as a club and he’s not involved.

“This certainly isn’t an easy situation, we don’t want our club captain to be in that situation.”

Pressed on whether Aubameyang could miss more than one game, Arteta would only say: “It starts today.”

The Spaniard’s announcement comes just a day after he dismissed claims from Gary Neville that his relationship with the attacker had become strained, and that he was looking to sell him.

Alexandre Lacazette replaces the 32-year-old in the Gunners attack and as the captain for the day. Emile Smith Rowe, who is short on fitness, has dropped to the bench.