Arsenal plan to use AFCON to ‘reset relations’ with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Cast out ex-captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to be given a new lease of life by boss Mikel Arteta with Arsenal ready to 'reset relations' with the Gabonese forward in the new year.

Aubameyang was sensationally stripped of the Gunners captaincy this month after arriving home late from an authorised trip abroad.

The 32-year-old has not featured since coming on as a substitute in a 2-1 defeat to Everton on December 6 and has been told to train on his own after falling short of club standards.

He has since been omitted from all four matchday squads including Tuesday night's 5-1 win over League OneSunderland, where Arteta fielded a heavily rotated 11.

And even though Aubameyang will play no further part in the Gunners final two fixtures of 2021, he will be afforded a route back to first-team football.

The Sun report Arteta is planning to 'reset relations' with his former skipper in the new year by using his absence from the squad to mend their rift.

Aubameyang is captain of the Gabon international side and will be jetting off to Cameroon in January to take part in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Does Aubameyang deserve a second chance at Arsenal? Let us know in the comments section.

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Arsenal have a busy new year schedule with League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League fixtures all scheduled on top of their Premier League commitments.

And while Aubameyang will be elsewhere until the start of February, Arteta will need his forward to be firing on all cylinders when he returns back to the UK.

The Gunners have just three other senior recognised forwards on their books in Lacazette, Martinelli and Nketiah.

Though both Lacazette and Nketiah are out of contract at the end of the season and it remains doubtful either of them will be offered a new deal at the club.

Arteta may also opt to flog the pair in the winter window rather than lose them both for free in the summer.

Whilst unlikely, it's not out of the realms of possibility that Martinelli could be the only senior striker at the club when Aubameyang returns from international duty.

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