Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returns to Arsenal early

Aubameyang returns to the club without appearing for his country at AFCON despite returning to Gabon training.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a file photo playing for Gabon, Image credit: Twitter
By Amruth Kalidas | Jan 17, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Gabon have sent Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back to Arsenal and London to undergo additional medical evaluation following the “cardiac issue” / “heart lesions” seemingly related to his recent positive COVID test that kept him out of the AFCON opener. The heart problem was detected prior to Gabon’s 1-1 draw with Ghana, which made him unavailable for that match too. Aubameyang returns to the club without appearing for his country at AFCON despite returning to Gabon training and reportedly feeling fine.

GABON DON’T WANT TO RISK AUBAMEYANG AND LEMINA

Both Gabon’s doctors and Arsenal’s, who had been in contact with Aubameyang and the national team medical staff per reports, were initially unconcerned about the results of his scan. It seems that, at least initially, the plan was for both Aubameyang and Mario Lemina to remain with the team in the hope of contributing at some point during AFCON. Clearly something has changed since then. Gabon manager Patrice Neveu said:

“Since yesterday, the decision was taken to send them [Aubameyang and Lemina] home to their club. We can’t judge it here [in Cameroon], we can’t assess the pathology of Covid here. It’s important that Mario returns to Nice and Pierre returns to Arsenal. It’s a decision that we’ve taken among ourselves.”

Read more: AFCON: Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea register wins as Ivory Coast settle for draw

There is no use speculating as to what prompted the change in course because it could be anything from practical (they won’t pass fitness in time to play) to precautionary or medically motivated. We hope that both Aubameyang and Lemina have a speedy, uneventful recovery.

ERIKSEN MAY RETURN TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE

Christian Eriksen may return to Premier League action sooner than expected. The former Inter Milan player has become a target for Brentford this transfer window. As reported by Jay Harris at The Athletic, the Danish midfielder could in fact become a new signing for the English club in the coming days after offering him a six-month contract with an option for another year.

If the move were to occur, it would mark Eriksen’s return to elite level soccer after he collapsed on the field and suffered a cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 last summer last summer while playing for Denmark. Eriksen’s long road to recovery began quickly and he revealed he hoped to be back playing for Denmark by the 2022 World Cup.