Arteta: Aubameyang dropped for Saints game after 'disciplinary breach'
Football
By
Reuters
| Dec 11, 2021
Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been dropped from Saturday's Premier League squad to face Southampton due to a "disciplinary breach", manager Mikel Arteta said.
Aubameyang, who signed a new three-year contract with the north London club last year, has struggled this season, scoring only four Premier League goals -- the last of which was in October against Aston Villa.
"(It is) unfortunately due to a disciplinary breach," Arteta said before Saturday's game at Emirates Stadium.
"We've been very consistent that there are certain non-negotiables on the team that we have set ourselves and as a club, and he's not involved today."
Asked if the decision was a long-term ban or just for Saturday's game, Arteta added: "It starts today... It's certainly not an easy situation, a situation that we want our club captain to be in."
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Aubameyang has been dropped before for disciplinary reasons, with Arteta excluding the Gabon international from their 2-1 derby win over north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur last season.
Arsenal have slipped to seventh in the league standings this season after back-to-back defeats and have 23 points after 15 matches, while Southampton are 16th on 16 points.