Arsenal’s Aubameyang under investigation for alleged Covid breach to get new tattoo

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Leeds United - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - February 14, 2021 Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick [Pool via REUTERS/Adam Davy]

Arsenal are looking into suggestions that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang broke coronavirus lockdown rules in order to get a new tattoo.

The 31-year-old striker - who scored a hat-trick in the Gunners' 4-2 win against Leeds at the weekend - was pictured posing with a new inked design on his left hand along with tattoo artist Alejandro Nicolas Bernal.

However, UK regulations state that all mobile and static tattoo parlours must remain closed during the current lockdown.

And Aubameyang could face punishment from his club if he is indeed found to have breached the protocols.

It comes after the Gabonese international was recently given time off by Arsenal in order to visit his ill mother in France.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang poses with tattoo artist Alejandro Nicolas Bernal (Image: alexink8/Instagram)

He missed games against Southampton in the Premier League and FA Cup as well as another league match against Manchester United during his absence.

The picture of him with his new tattoo appeared on the Instagram account alexink8 five days ago.

An Arsenal spokesman told The Mirror: "It is a private matter and we will be speaking to the player to establish the facts."

The Mirror have also contacted Aubameyang for comment.

Aubameyang has scored ten goals in all competitions for the Gunners so far this season and looks to be getting back to something approaching his best form after a slow start to the campaign.

His teammate Bukayo Saka was full of praise for him after the win over Leeds, telling Stadium Astro: "He's amazing, I can't speak highly enough of him.

"Today he showed everyone how much quality he has when he gets the chances he’s going to put them away.

"He can drift out to the left and dribble, he can do everything.

"We’re so happy to have him and its good he got the hat-trick for confidence. We have a big week ahead and we hope he can score many more goals for us."