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LONDON. — Mikel Arteta has left the door open for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to return to the Arsenal squad as soon as this weekend, although he was not keen to be drawn on the matter.
The forward was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy earlier this week and the Gunners shone in his absence on Wednesday night, beating West Ham 2-0 at the Emirates through goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe.
When the club announced that the 32-year-old was being removed as captain he was also taken out of contention for the clash with the Hammers, but that was all.
Arteta did not want to discuss the topic after the match on Wednesday, but did confirm that Aubameyang was only unavailable for selection for one match and therefore could return to the fold tomorrow at Leeds.
“He was ineligible for this game, that’s it, and this game is gone now,” Arteta told BT Sport.
Asked whether he will be involved at the weekend, Arteta added: “We will discuss that in the near future.”’
Even if Arteta decides to bring Aubameyang back into the squad at Elland Road, he is unlikely to go straight back into the starting XI after a great performance from the Gunners against the Hammers.
Alexandre Lacazette captained the side and started up front, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli behind him and Smith Rowe coming off the bench to score the second.
Arteta was pleased that his side showed focus and commitment amid the distractions of the Aubameyang situation and was clearly impressed with their quality as well.
“They were fully focused and they wanted to show how strong we are as a team,” he said.
“The performance and the attitude and commitment that they showed today showed where we are as a club.
“We have a leadership group, I expect them, but I expect from every player to stick to our values and do what they have to do.
“They then have to enjoy themselves, because enjoyment is a big part of that. Play with a passion and that’s it, nothing else.”
Arsenal showed they can thrive without axed Aubameyang as the Gunners moved into fourth place in the English Premier League with a win against West Ham, while the top-flight’s coronavirus crisis deepened on Wednesday.
Martinelli and Smith Rowe netted in the second half of a fiery London derby at the Emirates Stadium that saw West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal sent off.
Arsenal are one point above fifth-placed West Ham after a second successive victory eased the drama surrounding Arteta’s decision to strip Gabon forward Aubameyang of the club captaincy.
Arteta’s side are in the top four at this stage of a season for the first time in two-and-a-half years.
It is a remarkable reversal of fortune after Arsenal lost their opening three league games for the first time in 67 years.
“It was a statement result. The performance, attitude and commitment the players showed is exactly what we are about,” Arteta said.
“We have a leadership group and I expect every player to stick to our values.”
Calls for Arteta to be sacked were widespread after an embarrassing 5-0 thrashing at Manchester City in August, but the Spaniard has steadied the ship impressively, with even the Aubameyang drama unable to derail him.
Aubameyang was absent from the squad after being removed from the captaincy due to a disciplinary breach on Tuesday.
He returned late and missed training last week after travelling to France to see his ill mother.
It was not Aubameyang’s first transgression, having previously been dropped for the north London derby against Tottenham in March after what was described as a breach of the club’s pre-match protocol. — Metro.
Online Reporter