Mikel Arteta provides Aubameyang fitness update

Aubameyang is still struggling physically claims Mikel Arteta.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang played a cameo against Villarreal on Thursday night as he was deemed not fit enough to start the game.

He was hospitalised with malaria which he picked up while on international duty with Gabon and missed almost a month of action.

“He hasn’t trained much, he is still not at the level in his physique that he should be to start,” said the Spaniard to press on Friday. “We will see again tomorrow how he is.

“Yesterday he could only play a few minutes but we managed to get him on the pitch, which is great news for us.”

This means Arteta has a problem with centre-forwards going into the clash with Newcastle.

Alexandre Lacazette is still recovering from a hamstring strain and won’t be available for this weekend’s game at St James’ Park.

Mikel Arteta may opt to go with a ‘false nine’ to lead the line once again.

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