Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he is unsure why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has returned to the club earlier than expected from the Africa Cup of Nations.
The 32-year-old striker was away on international duty with Gabon at the tournament but did not get to kick a ball in competitive action for his country due to contracting Covid-19 on the eve of the competition.
Ahead of Gabon's second group stage fixture against Ghana, Aubameyang was not selected due to fears over his health after tests determined he had suffered cardiac lesions during his time with Covid.
Gabon have deemed the situation not worth the risk and allowed the former Borussia Dortmund man to return to north London where he is expected to undergo further tests to determine the root of the problem.
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Arteta has since confirmed Aubameyang is back in the capital while also bemoaning the lack of clarity from the Gabon FA surrounding the situation.
"He's in London. Now he's going through some examinations because we haven't had any clarity from the Gabon national team about the reasons why he's come back," the Spaniard explained.
"It's our obligation to make sure he's in a good condition and there's no issues related to that."
The Arsenal boss was then grilled on whether the striker will ever play for the club again, to which he replied: ""He contracted Covid and then the national team decided to bring him back here.
"We need to make sure the player's health is in the best possible condition and then we'll see what happens."
Aubameyang was pictured partying in Dubai with teammate Mario Lemina before testing positive for the virus just days later and ruling himself out of his national side's opening game.
Once the Gabon skipper had not been selected for the second fixture, reports began to circulate in a bid to try and explain his omission.
The Gabon FA quickly cleared up the matter via twitter which explained he had suffered cardiac lesions and was deemed too much of a risk to play that night.
It has since been discovered that he is clearly not fit to participate in any capacity in what is just the latest blow for a player that has endured a turbulent few months.
The tail-end of 2021 saw Aubameyang stripped of the Arsenal captaincy following his latest disciplinary breach which has since sparked huge speculation as to where his club future lies.
Yet to feature for the club since December 6, prior to this news surrounding a potential health scare it looked as if Aubameyang's days in north London were numbered.
