Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta insists they'll never seek to block Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from playing for Gabon.

That was the claim of Gabon coach Patrice Neveu after their Gambian airport fiasco this week.

But Arteta said today: "No [he's not right]. Obviously it was a shock to see a full squad sleeping the way they were doing.

"I always believe that everybody's trying to do their best and the Gabon national team are trying to organise things the best possible way. Sometimes unpredictable things happen and it was an experience.

"I said to Auba, 'Take it as an experience. I'm sure for many months or years you haven't slept on the floor, take it from there and just make sure when you're in your bed, you know how good it is, how comfortable is it and how lucky you are'. You cannot change it, you cannot rewind it so take it the way it is and move on. I hope that the next time it doesn't happen and that our players have the rest that they need."