At Arsenal, all hopes will be placed on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Thursday evening when manager Mikel Arteta’s team takes on Villarreal in the semi-final of the Europa League. The away game in Spain was lost 2-1 and so it has to be won to secure a place in the final. Aubameyang was only able to take office six minutes a week ago, as he was still recovering from a malaria infection. On the website of his club, he looks back extensively on the moment he became infected and his stay in the hospital.
Aubameyang’s absence during the Premier League match against Sheffield United (0-3) won on April 11 already raised the necessary questions in the English media. On Thursday, April 15, it was subsequently announced that the attack leader had been hospitalized with malaria. Aubameyang contracted the disease while making international commitments with his native country. Gabon played in the qualifying cycle for the Africa Cup at the end of March against DR Congo (home, 3-0 win) and Angola (away, 2-1 defeat). Aubameyang was not part of the selection at the last international match.
“To be honest, I felt quite normal,” Aubameyang recalled when he contracted the disease. “I felt a bit down, but I thought that was because of the trip. Gabon is not around the corner. I felt a bit tired, especially against Liverpool (0-3 loss, ed.). thought I was bothered by the trip. When the illness started I suddenly started to feel really bad. I don’t think I’ve ever been so sick in my life. I’ve had a continuous fever for three days in a row, during the day and at the same time. night. ”
Aubameyang has not looked fully fit since the relevant international match period. Malaria is caused by parasites, which usually enter the body through a mosquito bite. The illness causes fever, headache, chills and muscle aches, preceded by flu. He did participate in the quarterfinals of the Europa League against Slavia Prague (1-1) for fifteen minutes, but then reported in the infirmary. “Even paracetamol had no effect,” the attacker continues. “So I went to the hospital on the advice of the club doctor, because I had traveled to Africa. My complaints could indicate malaria.”
Aubameyang was subsequently hospitalized for three days. “I was really down and lost four kilos, so I think it was a bit scary for my family to see me like this. I had good treatment. The doctors did a good job and I was lucky. that I was there at the right time. If you do not treat malaria quickly, it can also turn out very differently. ” Aubameyang made his return to Arsenal against Villarreal last week and started back in the base against Newcastle United (0-2 win) on Sunday. On a pass from Gabriel Martinelli, he made it 0-2 after more than an hour of play.