The 32-year-old Gabon star was not considered for selection as the Gunners beat the Hammers on Wednesday
Mikel Arteta has refused to say whether Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be eligible for Arsenal’s next match as the striker’s exile continues.
Aubameyang was not considered for selection on Wednesday as Arsenal defeated West Ham 2-0 at Emirates Stadium to jump into the top four.
It was the second straight game Aubameyang missed in a week that has seen him stripped of the club captaincy following a breach of discipline.
Following the win over the Hammers, Arteta was asked by BT Sport if Aubameyang would feature in Arsenal’s next match.
The head coach replied: “He wasn’t eligible for this game and that’s it. This game is gone. We will discuss it shortly.”
Arteta also praised his side’s response amid a tumultuous week, saying: “They were fully focused. They wanted to show how strong we are as a team. The performance, the attitude, and the commitment they showed today is exactly what we are as a club.
“I expect it from every player – to stick to our values. We will talk about [Aubameyang] another day. Today I want to talk about the game.”
Arteta initially dropped the striker for Arsenal’s match against Southampton at the weekend after he was absent from training on Friday.
After a 3-0 win over Saints, Arsenal released a statement saying Aubameyang had been stripped of the club’s captaincy and would also not be considered for selection against the Hammers.
In the statement, Arteta said: “The decision that we have taken as a club is very clear. It is because we believe that he has failed to be committed at the level that we all expect and agreed.
“That commitment and passion has to be there. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.”
Arsenal will next be in action against Leeds on Saturday as they look to solidify their grip on a top-four spot.
