Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to miss Arsenal’s opening game of the season against Brentford, after being absent from training.

Goal report that Arsenal club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been absent from training in the build up to the team’s Premier League opener against Brentford this weekend. Though they don’t know the exact reason, they believe the forward has been ill this week.

It’s obviously terrible timing on the eve of the new season, particularly when Aubameyang has been involved in pre-season for a month now seemingly without any health or fitness issues. It remains to be seen whether he’ll be back in time for the next couple of big-six clashes.

For the Brentford game, Bukayo Saka is seen as the most likely replacement in the starting lineup to come in on the left, with Nicolas Pépé on the right. Alexandre Lacazette is also out, so Folarin Balogun and Gabriel Martinelli are now in line for a surprise call-up.

Other options include Willian – either on the left or in the middle with Emile Smith Rowe shifting wide. But if Saka is ready to play, he’d probably be preferred.

One player who won’t be coming in as a replacement is Eddie Nketiah, considering he’s still out injured.