According to Goal.com’s Charles Watts, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to miss Arsenal’s match with Southampton having been absent from today’s training session.
The club captain wasn’t listed as an injury concern when the medical team released its usual pre-game fitness bulletin this morning nor did Mikel Arteta mention an issue when he faced the media at 1.30pm.
The report claims the player is thought to be unwell, which will no doubt set alarm bells ringing given the situation at the other end of the Seven Sisters Road.
Last season, Aubameyang contracted malaria off the back of international duty and he also missed the opening two games of this season with Covid-19.
Whatever is up with him, we hope he recovers quickly.
In light of the UK government’s decision to implement ‘Plan B’ to deal with a rise in Covid-19 cases amid the spread of the Omicron variant, Arteta was asked this afternoon what protocols Arsenal have put in place to minimise the risk of an outbreak in his squad.
“We have to put all the protocols in place again but the situation is very tricky because it is impossible to create a bubble around the training ground or the stadium when the whole world is open,” he said.
“It is not about us, it is about the people we have around us, it is our kids, there are a lot of people connected to us and it makes the situation very tricky.”
In light of the decision to call off Sp*rs’ match with Brighton and having his own calls for a postponement fall on deaf ears at the start of the season, he also agreed that the Premier League should outline a threshold for positive Covid cases before matches are postponed.
“That would be helpful, yes,” he said pointedly.
” ” ” unwell ” ” “
According to few sources and the medical team our leader and capitan has vaginitis this time around.
Here we go again.. we have been down this road before and it fucking sucks. Ozil vibes all over again. How can one manager fall out with so many top players?
Because they’re playing shite and not doing the job they’re paid a fortune to do
Every manager benched ozil. The prick got the sniffles at the mere mention of playing outside London.
Damn. I fully expected Auba to have a big game at home against the Saints … Hopefully others are ready to step up.
I admire your optimism
The only bonus being it takes him out of the spot light for a little bit and makes the team selection fairly simplistic now, Lacazette up front it is.
This Southampton game is going to be a real battle of attrition, they will be more than happy to sit in and do nothing and hit us on the break..
The resurrection of Pepe
On the one hand I’d say no chance as he appears to have been frozen out. On the other Mikel does do some wacky things when it comes to team selection
I think they will be more than happy for us to go 1-0 up early, then we sit back and they can pepper our goal and score two. Then the last 5 min we bring Elneny on and panic to try and make it 2-2. Classic Arteta.
Don’t be surprised if nketia starts. Xhaka will 😩😩
Perhaps we should have Partey at number 10 😉
There’s logic here if partey is playing as a forward he’s generally closer to the goal so in theory his shots should hit the roof of the net!
You’re joking right?
I think the winking face might just suggest he is. I’m not sure though. It’s a tough call as the winking eye clue is not clear 😂
He’s been ungood for a while now.
What are the rules for covid outbreaks?
It doesn’t seem fair that we had to play Brentford, and others get postponements.
As for Auba, I’m sure he won’t be a big miss tomorrow.
Let the conspiracy theories begin.
No conspiracy in this case, just theories will do.
Yeah, he should have a nice little break and get his head straight.
We need hard working attacking runs not just pressing runs. Run in attack so much, that these cowards in the build-up HAVE to pass to those making runs.
Oh no, I hope Mesut feels better soon
He’ll be back in a fortnite.
I think he may have posterior bovine banjitis.
Key symptom is being unable to hit a cow’s arse with a banjo.
Tough crowd tonight
Remind me to never take you to a farm ever.
Nketiah up top…
Wouldn’t surprise me.
Absolutely ridiculous Eddie nketiah is anywhere near the squad. Completely fkn useless.
Hi, Arteta;
If you start with Lacazette tomorrow, tell him to play as a centre forward, and not wander about the field like a lost dog.
I hope this isn’t the beginning of the end for Auba.
He’s getting no service and so can’t score. I get the feeling that he’s peed off with Arteta’s negative tactics and might want out. The problem is that I can’t see anyone paying his wages right now.
We need to move on from Arteta now and find a manager who can get the best out of Auba.
Well said sir.
We know that reinfection is definitely a thing with Covid, but if that is what it is, for it to come so soon after his August infection would be remarkable. I have heard it said that it might be theoretically possible to be co-infected with delta and omicron, because of how wildly different Omicron is in terms of its mutations. That’s not confirmed though I don’t think, so take it with a pinch of salt – but if there is something to it, it might explain reinfection so soon. Meanwhile, Long Covid remains the elephant in the proverbial football room,… Read more »
I dont know whats with Auba. After signing a new contract, his scoring ability just went off. He was doing just fine before that scoring 2 consecutive games and fastest player to reach 50 goals. Now I’m not even sure if he can reach that 100 goals. I hope he can bounce back.
A bit like how he was I well when he left Borussia.
Struggling to see who will bid for him.
Sorry to hear he is unwell and hope it is nothing serious.
If Lacazette is the preferred option up front, I hope he plays further forward today. Just before Tomiyasu was stamped on at Everton, it was Alex who was the defender furthest back making a decisive tackle around his own box. It is pointless having a striker that far from goal.