JAKARTA - Arsenal striker and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang admitted that he was very happy to be back playing and also scored a goal against Newcastle United when his team won 2-0 in the Premier League at St. James' Park, last Sunday night.
Aubameyang returned after missing three Premier League matches, contracting symptoms of malaria while on duty to defend the Gabon national team in mid-April.
He marked his comeback with a stunning goal with an acrobatic finish to meet Gabriel Martinelli's accurate cross to complete Arsenal's win.
What an assist from Gabriel Martinelli who finds Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and our captain taps the ball into the net!
Newcastle United 0-2 Arsenal #NEWARSpic.twitter.com/yF5DleLN5z
— ArsenalVideo (@arsenal_video) May 2, 2021
"I have to say after a few weeks' absences you will realize how nice it is to be back on the pitch," said Aubameyang after the match, as quoted by Antara from Arsenal's official website.
"I was especially happy and also able to score goals," he added.
Aubameyang did not play the full 90 minutes and was pulled off by Mikel Arteta in the 78th minute to be replaced by Nicolas Pepe as a precaution for his not fully fit condition.
The 31-year-old player also admitted that in the last five minutes of his performance he was quite tired.
Nevertheless, he thanked the team of doctors who responded well to the symptoms he felt some time ago, so he can now return to grazing.
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"In the final five minutes, I was quite desperate to play. But to be honest, I felt quite good throughout the performance and I am very happy with that fact," he said.
"I have to say the doctors did well, took me to the hospital, and so on. I am very grateful to them," added Aubameyang.
Arsenal's first win in three games took them up to ninth place in the standings with a collection of 49 points.
Arsenal next hosts Villarreal at the Emirates on Thursday, May 6 for the second leg of the Europa League semi-final in a bid to overturn the 1-2 aggregate deficit, before welcoming West Bromwich Albion to the same venue three days later.
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