Only one person can answer that question, as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was obliged to leave his captain out of the matchday squad against Southampton as a result of breaking club protocol for the second time.

“I think we’ve been extremely constant,” Arteta said, “that we have certain non-negotiables in the team that we’ve established as a club.” “I can’t tell you what happens in the dressing room.” I apologize for the inconvenience.

“I’m telling you the reason because I can’t lie; it was because of [a disciplinary violation].” This is my position. I will never reveal the nature of the breach from my perspective.”

However, Arteta intimated that Aubameyang might return to the Arsenal team for the match against West Ham United on Wednesday night.

In his post-match press conference, the Spaniard was asked if the club will impose a longer-term suspension on the Gabonese international.

While Aubameyang’s statement implies he still has a future at Arsenal, even if he does return to the squad against West Ham, there’s no guarantee he’ll start or come off the bench.

This is mostly due to Arteta’s treatment of players during his tenure, with Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi in particular being locked out after rubbing him the wrong way.

As a result, if Aubameyang does not play against the Hammers, he may have already played his final Arsenal match of 2021.

This is due to FIFA regulations, which dictate that players must be released by their clubs on December 27 – 13 days before the tournament’s first match, according to the Guardian.

This means Aubameyang, along with Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny, and Nicolas Pepe, will miss the Premier League match against Wolves the next day, as well as the visit of Manchester City on January 1.

Having said that, depending on what can be arranged with their clubs, some may be granted permission to join up with their national squads at a later period.

However, if Aubameyang is released on December 27, he will have a few weeks to don the Arsenal shirt once more before heading to Cameroon to represent his country.

The Gunners have four games in this period – West Ham United, Leeds United, a Carabao Cup meeting against Sunderland, and a trip to Norwich City – but it’s unclear whether the 32-year-old will play in any of them.