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How Aubameyang mother cost him his captaincy, spot on the team

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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

English club, Arsenal announced yesterday that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of his role captain.

This came as the club also dropped Aubameyang from the squad that faced Southamptom over the weekend.

But Payuka.Co.Ke has learnt that trouble began after the player returned late from a trip to tend to his sick mother.

Reports indicate the Arsenal captain got permission to go abroad on Wednesday morning last week to collect his sick mum and bring her back to England. 

The striker was to return later that evening to enable him train with the team on Thursday.

The current Covid-19 testing protocols also meant that Aubameyang was unable to return to training until he had produced a negative PCR test.     

As a result, Aubameyang was told not to report to London Colney for Arsenal’s training session on Friday and was encouraged to train at home.   

Discipline

Speaking after their victory on Saturday afternoon, manager Mikel Arteta repeatedly refused to be drawn on the incident.

He said: ‘Unfortunately, [Aubameyang has been left out] due to a disciplinary breach.

‘I think we’ve been very consistent with no negotiables as a team that we have set ourselves as a club, so he’s not involved today.

‘Certainly, it’s not an easy situation, a situation that we want our club captain to be in.’ 

Arteta also refused to fully answer seven press questions related to Aubameyang in the wake of the Gunners’ 3-0 demolition of Southampton.

The Arsenal manager said: ‘Let’s talk about the game, guys. I try to explain to you what it was and I did it frankly and I’m not going to say anything else.

‘I’m going to focus on the performance and what the team did on the pitch.’

This is not the first time Aubameyang has missed out a game to be with his mum, who has struggled with ‘health issues’ this year. 

Aubameyang previously missed Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Southampton in January after Arteta afforded his striker compassionate leave to be with his sick mother.    

Sick Mother

Speaking at the time, Arteta said: ‘It’s been tough. He wants to be here, he wants to be training, he doesn’t want to miss football matches.

‘When you see a member of your family suffering and going through a difficult period, it drains you emotionally and you have to be close to them.’ 

The captain also took to social media at the time to thank his team-mates for their understanding and explain the reason for his absence. 

He said: ‘Hey guys, thank you so much for all the messages and calls over the last few days.

‘My mother is going through some health issues and I had to be there for her. She’s already much better now and I will be back home tonight. I’m more than grateful to the doctors and nurses helping her get through this.

‘And of course, thanks to my Arsenal fam for the love yesterday! I’m more determined than ever to keep our momentum going!

‘Thank you all again – I really am blessed to receive this level of support and love from all of you and I can’t wait to be back. PEA.’ 

via Daily Mail


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