Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is ruled out of the Gunners’ weekend Premier League game against Manchester United, as per reports.
The Gabon international has been missing from the first-team squad for the last two matches due to his mother’s ill health and speaking to the press earlier this week, manager Mikel Arteta had hinted that Aubameyang could be an absentee on Saturday as well.
He had said: “I don’t know. I spoke with him yesterday. Things are looking better at the moment, but we are going to have to wait and see. He is our captain and one of the most important players.
“We are doing everything we can to have him as a quick as possible, but understanding that he has been through difficult days, that he had to support his family and we were here to support him as well with the time that he needed to get that support.”
Now, as per a report in Football London, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not going to be back in time to take on Manchester United.
Who will replace Aubameyang in the first XI for Arsenal vs Man United?
In midweek, it was Nicolas Pepe who played on the left-wing in the absence of Aubameyang and on Saturday, Arteta could use the same shape.
Pepe was superb on the left-hand side of the pitch, scoring a goal against the Saints and based on his performance in midweek, the former Ligue 1 star should be rewarded with another start.
But, the Arsenal boss also have the option of using young Gabriel Martinelli on the left-wing after the Brazilian remained an unused sub at the St Mary’s Stadium.
