Arsenal to entertain offers for Aubameyang
The future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal is steaming toward the exit row at the Emirates after the club has left itself open to entertaining offers for the Gabonese star to depart in January.
This comes in the wake of the former Borussia Dortmund hitman not only being stripped of the captaincy by boss Mikel Arteta given repeat behavior that saw him breach club policies and protocols but losing his place altogether in the Arsenal squad that now has him training alone at the club’s London Colney base with AFCON around the corner.
According to ESPN correspondent James Olley as well as Football.London‘s chief Arsenal correspondent Chris Wheatley, the Gunners are open to offers despite the potential striker crisis that could come as a result this summer.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is assessing his options ahead of the January transfer window.
The former Arsenal captain is still training away from the first team as Arteta looks to avoid a repeat of the Ozil situation.
European clubs monitoring closely ?https://t.co/JGAqlOYaMC
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) December 22, 2021
Both Alexandre Lacazette and Hale End product Eddie Nketiah – at current – are expected to leave in the summer on free transfers. Should Aubameyang be let go in January either on loan with an option/obligation to buy or in a full deal, that would leave Arsenal with just Folarin Balogun as their only recognized striker.
According to both reports, there are a handful of top clubs around Europe that could potentially come in for the Gabonese star, including Serie A trio Juventus, Inter, and AC Milan. Paris Saint-Germain was also mooted as a possible destination, but much of that is contingent on the future of Kylian Mbappé.
Gunners keep rolling without Gabonese star
The bell has begun to toll for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, not just in terms of his potential falling out with Mikel Arteta, but the notion that Arsenal has not skipped a beat without him in the team of late.
League One outfit Sunderland was the latest victim of Arteta’s young guns last night after the Emirates played host to a resounding 5-1 win that featured a Nketiah hat trick, while the Gunners have won three on the bounce in the Premier League and go into Boxing Day four points clear of West Ham and a potential fourth win on the trot when they visit struggling Norwich at Carrow Road.
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal scores his teams first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Club starlets Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Ødegaard have been in fine form since Aubameyang was removed from first-team duties, while veteran Alexandre Lacazette has performed admirably while fitting the tactical requirements necessary for the number 9 role in Arteta’s system.
With Arsenal openly accepting offers for Aubameyang, his future away from north London could be all but sealed.
