Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looks on ahead of Arsenal's Premier League clash with Everton
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Arsenal future is in serious doubt (Picture: Getty)

Carlton Cole says he ‘can’t see’ Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joining Newcastle this January, but believes a sensational move to Chelsea could be a ‘possibility’ for the Arsenal striker given his history with Thomas Tuchel.

Aubameyang’s future at Arsenal is in serious doubt after he was stripped of the captain’s armband for a disciplinary breach prior to the side’s 3-0 victory over Southampton last month.

It subsequently emerged Aubameyang, 32, had failed to report for duty on time following an authorised trip abroad and the Gabon international has played no part in the Gunners’ last six matches as a consequence of his behaviour.

Mikel Arteta has refused to close the door on Aubameyang, but speculation has been mounting that the veteran forward may well have played his last game for the north London outfit.

Recent reports claimed Premier League strugglers Newcastle had made contact with Arsenal over a potential loan deal for Aubameyang, with Eddie Howe desperate to strengthen the Magpies’ attacking options this winter.

However, ex-England, West Ham and Chelsea striker Cole doubts Aubameyang would want to throw himself into a relegation scrap at St James’ Park in the second half of the campaign.

‘He’s not going to go down and start battling relegation, I can’t see that happening,’ Cole told Stadium Astro.

‘I think he will stick it out where he is and try change the tide. It’s one blip on the way.

‘He’ll have to learn his lesson. He’s been stripped of the captaincy and I think that’s more than enough.

‘If he goes up to Newcastle and then gets relegated with Newcastle, where does that leave him?’

Carlton Cole looks on during Southampton's Premier League clash with West Ham
Cole believes Chelsea could be a ‘possibility’ for Arsenal outcast Aubameyang (Picture: Getty)

Cole said Arsenal’s bitter rivals, Chelsea, could be a surprise option for Aubameyang considering the forward knows Tuchel well from their time together at Borussia Dortmund.

‘If you look at it, Chelsea are in need of a striker as well,’ he added.

‘Imagine that, you never know! Stranger things have happened. It’s still London, do you know what I mean?

‘But I doubt that would happen as they’re [Arsenal] not going to sell or loan to their rival club.

‘Look at the history… Dortmund, Tuchel and Aubameyang… they know each other and he knows what he gets out of him.

‘I’m not saying that’s going to happen, I’m just saying it’s a possibility because everything’s a possibility in football.’

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, Arteta confirmed Aubameyang had left the club to join up with his Gabon colleagues for the Africa Cup of Nations.

‘For me it’s not about being right or wrong it’s about making the decisions that you believe are a consequence of what you’re asking them to do. As I said, we’ll go game by game,’ the Spaniard said.

‘At the moment he’s gone. He needs to focus on the national team.

‘We had the conversation that that was the best way to do it.’ 

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