Arsenal captain Aubameyang has been relieved of duties
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been stripped of the Arsenal captaincy following a breach of discipline.
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Former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Following a breach of discipline, Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been deprived of his position, as manager Mikel Arteta expressed his desire for a culture change at the club on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old forward was left out of Saturday's 3-0 triumph over Southampton and will not play against West Ham on Wednesday at the Emirates.
"Following his latest disciplinary breach last week, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will no longer be our club captain, and will not be considered for selection for Wednesday's match against West Ham United," Arsenal announced in a statement, adding that "We expect all our players, particularly our captain, to work to the rules and standards we have all set and agreed."
An update on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 14, 2021
According to The Athletic, Aubameyang returned from a personal trip to France later than expected last week, forcing him to skip training because of the requirement to pass coronavirus protocols.
Manager Arteta previously left Aubameyang out of a win over Tottenham Hotspur in March due to a disciplinary issue when he arrived late for a pre-match meeting.
Arteta said at a pre-match press conference: "It is a really a clear statement from the club. It is the decision we have made with the last incident we had with the player and this is where we stand," adding that "We had to make the decision, it is the right one to defend the interest of the football club."
Who is Aubameyang?
In 2019, Aubameyang was named Arsenal captain after Granit Xhaka was fired for a rant against fans after being substituted in a Premier League match against Crystal Palace.
The Gabonese attacker thrived in the role at first, helping Arsenal win their only title under Arteta by scoring twice in the FA Cup semi-final and final in 2020.
However, Aubameyang's form has plummeted since signing a three-year contract that reportedly paid him £18 million ($24 million) per year, making him one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League.
He only scored 10 Premier League goals last season as Arsenal placed seventh, and he has four in 14 league matches this season.
