Arsenal player sent back to Gunners from AFCON – Coach confirms return to Premier League club

Arsenal’s match against Tottenham Hotspur was called off ahead of Sunday, with the Gunners struggling to put a team out for the London derby.

Mikel Arteta’s side had a Covid-19 issue, and were also missing players due to suspension, injury, and the current AFCON tournament.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one of the players who has been away in Cameroon, and RMC now report he’s set to return to the Premier League club.

The Arsenal striker contracted Covid-19 ahead of Gabon’s start in the tournament and has therefore not yet taken to the pitch. Mario Lemina is in the same situation, and he’ll be returning to his club, OGC Nice.

Patrice Neveu, the Gabon national side’s coach, is quoted by RMC as saying: “Given the medical concern that Pierre-Emerick (Aubameyang) and Mario (Lemina) encountered, in agreement with the doctor, my federation president and the players, we made the wise decision to send them back to their clubs so that they can get treatment, be taken care of.”

There’s no clarification over when the Arsenal will be fit, or whether he’ll play any further part in Gabon’s AFCON campaign, something which looks unlikely at this point.