Pictures have surfaced online of the Gunners skipper getting a new tattoo on his hand
Arsenal are investigating whether captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has breached the club’s strict Covid-19 protocols.
There are suggestions that the 31-year-old, who got a hat-trick as the Gunners beat Leeds United 4-2 on Sunday, may have broken lockout rules and the club’s biosecurity bubble.
Gun chiefs are plotting talks with the forward after pictures of him getting a new tattoo appeared on social media.
What happen?
Aubameyang was filmed getting his new tattoo on the Instagram account of Spanish tattoo artist Alejandro Nicolas Bernal.
Neither Aubameyang nor Bernal wore masks during the inking, which saw Arsenal go on to get the tattoo on their hand.
Current UK Government regulations state that all mobile and static tattoo parlors must remain closed during the pandemic of coronavirus infection.
What has Arsenal said?
Arsenal have said they plan to sit down with Aubameyang to find out exactly what went on before deciding whether further action is needed.
A statement from the club said: “We will discuss the matter with the player and establish what has happened. ”
So what happens now?
Arsenal want to know when Aubameyang got the new tattoo, as that is not clear at the moment.
No further action will be taken until the club finds out for sure that any rules have been broken and that their own sharp, tight bubble has been broken.
Aubameyang has not recently returned from a trip abroad after taking time off from the club to visit his ill mother.
The Gunners captain missed games against Southampton and Manchester United before returning to the squad.
Speaking after scoring a goal against Leeds on Sunday, he thanked the club and the fans for the support they gave him while he was away.
“It’s been a difficult time for me but now is the time to regain my smile, win games and set goals,” he said.
“Everyone has given me a lot of love. I am very proud to be part of this family, so I have to thank everyone at the club, and the fans too because I got a lot of messages.
“I’m very happy and those goals are for them.”