Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stripped of Arsenal captaincy after latest disciplinary breach

The Gabonese forward was disciplined by the club last week over a late return from leave

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been stripped of the Arsenal captaincy and will not be present in the Gunners' squad for their game against West Ham United on Wednesday, it has been reported. The 32-year-old was dropped by manager Mikel Arteta last week after a late return to the United Kingdom from an authorised trip abroad. The late return is reported to have had an impact on his Covid-testing ahead of Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Southampton at the weekend. In a statement published on their website on Tuesday morning, the club confirmed the decision and reiterated the need for players to meet the standards 'set and agreed' by the club. The statement read: "Following his latest disciplinary breach last week, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will no longer be our club captain, and will not be considered for selection for Wednesday's match against West Ham United. "We expect all our players, particularly our captain, to work to the rules and standards we have all set and agreed. "We are fully focused on tomorrow’s match." The striker, who joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in 2018, enjoyed a brilliant first two-and-a-half seasons at the Emirates, but has seen his form dip since holding the club to ransom over a new deal in 2020. That impasse, which resulted in a bumper new contract, combined with an array of disciplinary issues and clashes with Arteta, has led to the club stripping him of the captaincy he was handed in 2019. That decision to name him captain came after his predecessor, Granit Xhaka, was also stripped of the captaincy following a harrowing performance in a 2-2 home draw with Crystal Palace, in which he was booed off the pitch by his own supporters.