Arsenal could block Aubameyang from national duty fears Gabon boss

Pierre Aubameyang of Gabon

Friday Nov 20, 2020. 13:00

Gabon head coach Patrice Neveu fears that Arsenal could block club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from honouring future call-ups.

The Gunners have been left furious by the way Aubameyang and his teammates were treated while away on international duty this month.

Aubamayeng revealed through a series of pictures how he and his Panthers teammates were forced to sleep on the floor after arriving at Banjul International Airport in Gambia on Monday morning, ahead of their 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier that evening.

The Gabonese team had their passports taken on arrival in Banjul and were only allowed into the country six hours later. Aubameyang lambasted the treatment on social media and the African football governing body are said to be investigating the incident.

Neveu told reporters on Wednesday: “Arsenal called Pierre-Emerick. After seeing him in those conditions, it’s over… They won’t let him come again, and it will be the same for players from other clubs.

“It’s understandable. They are high level players and when they come on international duty, they need to have a minimum of comfort.

He added: “All the players tried to sleep on the airport floor. Imagine if Aubameyang, a player who costs more than €1million per month, gets injured.

‘[Arsenal] can be annoyed after what’s happened, to make a player sleep on the floor.”

Aubameyang, 31, has returned to North London where he is preparing for Sunday’s Premier League fixture away to Leeds United.

Gabon are locked on seven points with Gambia atop Group D with two rounds of qualifiers remaining for Cameroon 2022.