Gabon send Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back to London for further heart checks

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s AFCON is on the line, with the Arsenal striker being sent back to London for further checks on his heart.

The 32-year-old missed Gabon’s first game against Comoros due to Covid, and sat out the 1-1 draw against Ghana after medics found ‘cardiac lesions’ during a heart check.

At that time, Gabon said the decision to leave him out of the game against Ghana was only precautionary, but he has now been sent back to north London for Arsenal’s club doctors to have a proper look at him.

Gabon manager Patrice Neveu confirmed that the star striker, alongside former Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina, have been sent to their clubs for further checks.

He said: “Since yesterday, the decision was taken to send them [Aubameyang and Lemina] home to their club.

“We can’t judge it here [in Cameroon], we can’t assess the pathology of Covid here.

“It’s important that Mario returns to Nice and Pierre returns to Arsenal.

“It’s a decision that we’ve taken among ourselves.”

Gabon have made a strong start to their AFCON campaign, winning one game and drawing the other.

Though they face group leaders Morocco in their final game, even a defeat and four points is likely to see them through to the knockout stages.