Arsenal Without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang And Alexandre Lacazette For Season Opener Vs Brentford
Arsenal have been dealt two major blows for the first game of the campaign with both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette unavailable for tonight's season-opener.
The Gunners kick off the new term with a trip to newly-promoted Brentford and hope to get off the mark in a campaign where they have no European football commitments.
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But Mikel Arteta will have to reshuffle his attack as according to David Ornstein from The Athletic, his two first-choice frontmen are unwell.
🚨 Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang + fellow striker Alexandre Lacazette are both unwell & therefore will not be available for their side’s opening game of the new Premier League season at Brentford tonight @TheAthleticUK #AFC #BrentfordFC #BREARS https://t.co/RFFL2fWNPH
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 13, 2021
With his go-to pair sidelined, and Eddie Nketiah injured, it seems as though Arteta will have to choose between either Gabriel Martinelli or Folarin Balogun up top.
Winger Nicolas Pepe could also be an option through the middle but the situation is less than ideal for Arsenal.
And as expected, fans have not taken the news too well on social media:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are both unwell and out of tonight's game at Brentford, as Arsenal's fate continues to be dictated by a spell that's been put on them by a Spurs-supporting witch.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) August 13, 2021
BREAKING: Aubameyang and Lacazette will both miss Arsenal's first game of the season tonight through illness. (📝The Athletic)
— The Kick Off (@thekickofftg) August 13, 2021
What a start to the season. pic.twitter.com/B294s72BKZ
Aubameyang and Lacazette out for tonight.
— Jerome (@Klarence_o) August 13, 2021
After Brentford, we play Chelsea, then City.
This season has the potential to go very bad very quickly.
After the transfer window (misses) we've had, Aubameyang and Lacazette being unavailable today for our season opener at Brentford is just so...Arsenal.
— Pete Hines (@DCDeacon) August 13, 2021
Buckle up fellow Gooners, it's gonna be a year. #COYG pic.twitter.com/M6SivWPOmr
Both Lacazette and Aubameyang looked fine in training yesterday, yet you want me to believe they are BOTH “unwell” to play today?
— Afc things (@Gunner2Jasper) August 13, 2021
Hmmmmm🤔👀 pic.twitter.com/QkgjPxLXTe
No Aubameyang and Lacazette for tonight's game 😪
— Yaq’ub 💦 (@UncleYakub) August 13, 2021
New season, same Arsenal
Aubameyang out
— Azeez (@Mwawasi__) August 13, 2021
Lacazette out
Scenes when Willian starts as false no. 9 pic.twitter.com/345NK4n8AJ
No Aubameyang or Lacazette which means Willian fasle 9 pic.twitter.com/CnMAcvTs7G
— Behind The Curve (@ArsehoIic) August 13, 2021
Aubameyang scored 15 goals in 39 appearances for Arsenal last term, while Lacazette was the team's top scorer and hit 17 in all competitions.
Thomas Partey is another absentee due to ankle injury picked up in a friendly against Chelsea, while defender Gabriel Magalhaes is still recovering from a knee problem.
After the game at the Brentford Community Stadium this evening, Arsenal play Chelsea, Manchester City and Spurs in the following five league fixtures.
Arsenal have added Ben White, Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga to their squad in the transfer window but Arteta is expecting some more activity between now and deadline day.
"When on this first period of the transfer window I think we’ve done a few things that we wanted to do," Arteta said in a press conference.
“There is still window to go so I’m sure things will happen either way.”
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
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