Aubameyang, 32, has fallen out of favour with Arteta at Arsenal and was stripped of the captaincy this month following a "disciplinary breach". He last played in a 2-1 league defeat at Everton on December 6, missing five games in all competitions.

Aubameyang signed a new three-year contract with Arsenal last year but has struggled this season, scoring only four Premier League goals – the last of which was in October.

Players heading to next month's Africa Cup of Nations finals are allowed to play for their clubs until January 3, but Arteta said that Gabon asked if Aubameyang could join early.

"We had a letter from the (Gabon) national team asking permission to get the player and the player was not going to get involved... so for his fitness and to keep competing, it was the right thing to do," Arteta told reporters on Friday.

"At the moment he has gone (for Afcon). He needs to focus on the national team. We had the conversation that it was the best possible way to do it. We will address it game-by-game."

Arteta himself said that he is recovering well after testing positive for Covid-19 this week. He added that assistant coach Albert Stuivenberg will take charge for Saturday's game, though the Spaniard will be in touch with the coaching staff.