Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will play no part in the club’s meeting with Sheffield United on Sunday, it has been confirmed.
Slavia the priority
Mikel Arteta’s men are of course set to turn their attentions back to matters on the domestic front in 24 hours’ time, when they make the trip to Bramall Lane.
The clash, in the grand scheme of things, means little when it comes to Arsenal’s campaign, with the Gunners having long blown their chance to secure Champions League football via a top-4 finish.
Instead, Arteta and co. will no doubt have one eye very much on matters in midweek.
This comes with the north Londoners set to make the trip to the Czech capital, for a crunch Europa League 2nd-leg showdown with Slavia Prague.
The opener between the sides on Thursday saw Arsenal throw away a crucial advantage at the death, as Tomas Holes stepped up from the back to nod home an equaliser with essentially the last kick of the game:
Slavia Prague have an away goal! 😳
In the closing seconds at the Emirates and Tomáš Holeš heads past Bernd Leno!
Fury for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal…#UEL pic.twitter.com/QrXc7zfv1j
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 8, 2021
Auba ruled out
The Gunners’ latest disappointing result, meanwhile, came with a number of the club’s key performers sidelined at present – all of Kieran Tierney, David Luiz and Martin Odegaard are sidelined with respective problems.
Emile Smith Rowe then joined those on the treatment table at the Emirates in midweek, after picking up an ankle sprain versus Slavia.
And, as outlined above, on Saturday, the personnel woes facing Mikel Arteta have only continued to deepen.
This comes with confirmation having been forthcoming – courtesy of the reliable David Ornstein – that Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will play no part in tomorrow’s meeting with Sheffield United.
The Gabonese hitman has come down with a bout of the flu.
Smith Rowe, whom the capital giants suggested was being ‘assessed’ ahead of the Bramall Lane clash, has also been ruled out.
Arsenal are without Aubameyang + Smith Rowe for Sunday trip to Sheffield United — Aubameyang has flu, Smith Rowe an ankle issue. #AFC will hope they recover in time for Europa League QF 2nd leg at Slavia Prague on Thursday @TheAthleticUK #SUFC #SHUARS #UEL https://t.co/KKkO9xpRv9
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) April 10, 2021
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