Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang delivers definitive ‘No’ to Arsenal

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the striker most European sides want in their team.

The Gabon international has plundered 24 goals in 23 games for Borussia Dortmund this season and his transfer fee, although pricey, would not sink most sides. Aubameyang missed training for 'personal reasons' earlier this week and although his club declared that was the simple answer, his absence still sparked transfer rumours. Dortmund's chief executive commented, over the festive period, that the club would not stand or fall on the presence of one playing - citing recent transfers of Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski to Bayern Munich. Reports on Thursday suggested that Arsenal were lining up a nearly £45m bid for the 26-year-old but the striker shot that notion down, saying: "I don’t want to go to Arsenal. I won't leave Dortmund soon." As emphatic a statement from a player's mouth as you are going to get. Will that stop the January rumours, however? We doubt it.