Gabonese striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubmeyang, has lost form since signing a new contract at his London-based, Arsenal, says former Tottenham forward Darren Bent.

Aubameyang reached a five-game goal drought for the first time since 2014 after Arsenal lost 1-0 to Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday night.

The 31-year-old last and only league goal came against Fulham on opening day and Bent thinks he is not having the best time in Mikel Arteta’s team.

“There has been a drop-off,” Bent said on Talk Sport.

“You look at his form in the semi-final and the final of the FA Cup last season, the Community Shield and his performance against Fulham – he was arguably one of the best strikers in the Premier League, probably the best.

“But since he signed that new contract, it might be a coincidence, but he’s looked a shadow of himself.

“He’s missed big opportunities in games, he’s not working with the same intensity, he doesn’t look like he’s enjoying it as much.

“Listen, confidence is massive in a striker. It is with any player, but particularly with a centre-forward, when you’re used to scoring as many goals as he is and then you suddenly stop scoring, it can be a little bit of a concern.

“But I think it’s even the work rate as well.

“You remember, he was putting shifts up and down, he was all over the place, but he’s been nowhere near that level recently.”

Aubameyang committed his future to the Emirates Stadium outfit last month in a deal that earns him around £250,000 per week at the club.

He will be expected to play a part when the Gunners host Dundalk for their next European fixture on Thursday before they battle Manchester United in the Premier League on November 1.

Rwanda’s Ministry of Sports has announced that all sporting disciplines in the country are now permitted by the government to resume training and competitions.

“Starting from Monday, September 28, strictly in compliance with COVID-19 safety guidelines, all sports events are allowed to resume their activities,” the ministry said in a statement.

The statement further said that sports federations and associations have been instructed to share detailed timelines and COVID-19 safety guidelines with the Ministry of Sports for approval before any competition can be organized.

Sports events were also asked by the ministry to ensure that prevention strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19 during sports activities are followed and implemented.

Sporting activities have been suspended in Rwanda since March 15 as the government put in place preventive measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The gradual reopening started in June and continued in July, as the ministry allowed training for individual sports such as cycling, athletics, golf, tennis, hiking, motorsports and martial arts.

In August, the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) announced that the 2020-21 Rwanda Premier League season is set to start on 30 October, six months after the previous season was ended early due to COVID-19. Consequently, FERWAFA handed army side APR the title, their record 18th, based on the standings after Match Day 23, and subsequently, results from Match Day 24 have been cancelled as not all teams had played round 24 games..

At the same time, Heroes FC and Gicumbi FC who were bottom of the pile with 15 and 16 points respectively were relegated from the top tier.

The 2020-21 season calendar composes of unfinished competitions for the 2019/2020 season that were postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, including the second division men’s league play-offs, and the first and second division women’s league.

A statement on the FERWAFA webside read:

The Ferwafa Competitions Calendar released includes the period when the postponed competitions for the 2019/2020 season will resume.

“These competitions include the Second Division Men’s League play-offs which will be played in a single knock-out format at a yet to be named venue in Kigali from October 2-17, 2020 while respecting measures put in place to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. The first and second division women’s leagues will also be played between October 3 to December 20, 2020.

“The Rwanda Premier League season 2020-2021 is tentatively planned to kick-off on October 30, 2020 and climax on May 20, 2021.

“The Second Division Men’s League season 2020-2021 will also tentatively kick-off on October 31, 2020, and climax on May 29, 2021.

“The Heroes Cup and Peace Cup competitions have also been planned in the Ferwafa Competitions Calendar. The 2021 edition of the Heroes Cup tournament will be played from January 19 to February 1, 2021, while the 2021 edition of the Peace Cup Competition is expected to kick-off on the weekend of February 4-5, 2020, and climax on June 5, 2021.

“The 2021 edition of the Women’s first division league is planned to kick-off on February 19, 2021, and climax on July 31, 2021, while the women’s second division league will kick-off on February 20, 2021, and climax on July 24, 2021, respectively.”

According to official figures, Rwanda had reported 4,832 COVID-19 cases in total, with 3,117 recoveries and 29 deaths as at Monday 28 September 2020.