- The Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left the field to use the toilet with less than five minutes to go against Brighton and Hove Albion on Thursday night.
- Freddie Ljungberg’s side trailed 2-1 and were chasing an equalizer when the Gabonese striker unexplainedly left the field for three minutes.
- While it was unclear at the time, it has since transpired that Aubameyang was answering nature’s call.
- “When you feel bad, you feed bad,” Ljungberg told reporters after the match. “There is nothing you can change.”
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“If you feel bad, you feel bad.”
Those were the words of Arsenal manager Freddie Ljungberg at his postmatch press conference when asked about his captain’s terribly timed toilet break during a 2-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion on Thursday night.
Arsenal was chasing an equalizer at Emirates Stadium with less than five minutes to go when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang disappeared down the tunnel.
It left his side with just 10 men on the pitch and without a striker, with Alexandre Lacazette having been substituted in the 77th minute.
Ljungberg was unaware as to why Aubameyang darted away at such a crucial point in the match; however, it has since become clear that the Gabon international did so to answer nature's call.
When asked about the incident, the Swedish boss, who is temporarily in charge of the Gunners following the sacking of Unai Emery last week, told reporters via the Metro: "I actually don't know [what happened]. He ran off and came back two or three minutes later. Maybe you should ask him about that.
"But - if you feel bad, you feel bad. There is nothing you can change."
The defeat was Arsenal's fourth of the Premier League season, and it has not won a top-flight game since October 6, when it beat Bournemouth, 1-0.
A dominant Brighton took the lead on the night after 36 minutes through defender Adam Webster. Arsenal was level just five minutes into the second half as Lacazette headed home his fifth of the season.
Neal Maupay then secured the win for Brighton in 80th minute, just moments before Aubameyang left the field.
Arsenal is now 10th in the Premier League table; it's next set to take on West Ham United on Monday.
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