Dortmund boss Peter Stoger says Pierre Emerick Aubameyang will still play in upcoming games despite bids from Arsenal to bring him to the Premier League. Former Arsenal striker Paul Mariner implores Arsene Wenger to end his "penny-pinching" approach to transfers and pay up for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be in Borussia Dortmund's squad for Saturday's Bundesliga match against Freiburg despite transfer links to Arsenal.
The club confirmed the forward's spot in the squad on Friday, after coach Peter Stoger had said a day earlier that he would not hesitate to call Aubameyang up to the matchday squad should the attacker continue to train well.
"It comes to pass what I said in recent days: If Aubameyang trains well the entire week, if it's clear that he's focused then it's unthinkable to leave him out of the squad," Stoger said after Friday's training.
"He showed a very focused and professional week of training and gives the impression that he will give everything for BVB. And because of that, we want to use his quality."
Aubameyang, 28, missed back-to-back Bundesliga matches for Dortmund as Arsenal have targeted the club's top scorer as a potential January transfer.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed the club are in talks to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
However, the Gabon international was not left out of the squad to avoid a potential transfer-threatening injury, but rather because of disciplinary reasons.
"If someone's fit, you will play him," Stoger said on Thursday.
And asked whether he could leave Aubameyang out of the squad to avoid an injury, Stoger replied he does "not have this thought."
He said: "The risk in training is as high as in a match. You never have security. And if someone's fit, you will play him. No, this idea would not cross my mind."
With several reporters from England in Dortmund, the club refused on Thursday to take any questions on the ongoing talks with Arsenal. Media director Sascha Fligge maintained the club never comments on transfer rumours.
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Source: espn.co.uk