Currently 15th on the points-table, Arsenal’s already troubled season suffered a huge blow as their talismanic skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been ruled out of the Premier League game with Everton on account of a calf strain.  

Although Aubameyang has been misfiring in the ongoing season, he has been Arsenal’s brightest hope in the past few seasons for the Gunners.

He ended his five-game-long goalless run in the 1-1 draw against Southampton on Wednesday, but has been ruled out of the fixture against the Toffees at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Rob Holding will take over the captaincy in Aubameyang’s absence.  

Arsenal fought back from a goal down against the Saints and had to play the final 30 minutes with 10 men.

After the Southampton game, manager Mikel Arteta, commenting on Aubameyang’s status, told Sky Sports: “He has a small muscle injury and will be out for a few days.”

“We will assess him and see how he is but he could not be fit for today.”

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Aubameyang provided an update on Instagram, saying: “I’m out today. Hopefully is not gonna take long to recover.”

The only positive for Arsenal is the return to fitness of Gabriel Martinelli, with the Brazilian forward on the bench against Everton for what could be his first appearance of the season.

The Gunners are just five points above the relegation places and they’ll need to find their form pronto. 

Arteta’s Gunners are winless in the Premier League since a 1-0 victory at Manchester United on November 1.

After the Merseyside club, Arsenal face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup and Chelsea in the Premier League, either side of Christmas Day.