Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is seemingly desperate to participate in this season’s Europa League despite being ineligible to feature for his new employers.
The Gabon international joined the Gunners after a lengthy speculation in January, and he has since made a good start to his career with three goals in five appearances.
Despite this, he has not been able to participate towards the club’s Europa League campaign, having previously featured for Borussia Dortmund, who dropped to the competition in the second half of the season.
On normal terms, UEFA permits players featuring in different European competitions, but Dortmund’s drop from the Champions League meant that Aubameyang was automatically registered as a Europa League-based player.
Hence, the 28-year-old was clearly frustrated with the situation, and he happened to agree with a fan on Twitter prior to the round of 16 second-leg versus AC Milan last week.
A retweet from the man himself! Go on auba! pic.twitter.com/FJkrqnumJd
— Simon Smith (@NorthBanker80) March 15, 2018
In spite of Aubameyang’s absence, Arsenal comfortably saw the Rossoneri through by a 5-1 aggregate scoreline, and they now have a quarter-final tie against CSKA Moscow to contest next month.
Danny Welbeck did a credible job up front during the double-legged tie versus Milan, contributing a couple of goals, but he could find himself replaced by Alexandre Lacazette for the CSKA game.
The France international has returned after a lay-off due to an urgent knee surgery, and he is expected to return to the first-team action after the break, having already reported to first-team training.
Arsene Wenger’s side have a Premier League match against Stoke City on Easter Day before hosting CSKA in the first-leg of the Europa League quarter-final, where they will aim to make strides towards the final-four.
