Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is expected to return to Arsenal training today, according to The Athletic.
The Gabonese star has been stripped of the club’s captaincy after his latest indiscretion saw him miss Arsenal’s 3-0 win against Southampton last time out.
The report says he will not play against West Ham this evening, but is expected to be back in training with Arsenal today.
The striker will no longer serve a punishment, but he is expected to fight for his place in the team.
Alexandre Lacazette will captain the team for the match against the Hammers.
Just Arsenal Opinion
Auba has gotten away with too many acts of indiscipline and it is right for the club to strip him of the captaincy.
The former Borussia Dortmund man remains one of the key players at the club and he is currently the top goalscorer this season.
However, he is not a good leader and should look to return to his best form now that the captaincy has been taken from him.
Mikel Arteta will want to take his time before naming a new permanent captain as Auba is the club’s second leader in the last three seasons.
Lacazette cannot be given the role permanently because he has an expiring contract and Granit Xhaka has already failed in that capacity before.
If Auba steps out of line once more, it may bring about a legitimate breach of contract and lead to its termination which may well be in the best interests of our Club.To those of you who apportion blame on this issue to Arteta, without knowing the full facts of the case, you really need to wise up.I will continue to crticise our Manager with regard to selections and tactics when appropriate, but without knowing exactly went on behind closed doors, any fan who slates our Manager on this issue is clutching at straws in their inane desire to see him removed .If Arsenal were to finish in the top four this season they would still call for Arteta’s head, such is their ongoing obsession.