Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has revealed that a desire to follow in the footsteps of his father convinced him to declare for the Gabon national team over France and Spain.

Arsenal striker Aubameyang was born in Laval, France, to a Spanish mother.

However he rejected the lure of both those sides, as well as the Italy Under-19 team, to eventually play for Gabon having already made his debut for the France Under-21 side.

Had he declared for any of those three countries he could have been a regular at international tournaments, whilst Gabon have never featured at a World Cup and have made it out of the group stages at the Africa Cup of Nations only once during Aubameyang’s playing career.

The chance to follow in the footsteps of his father Pierre, currently employed as a scout by AC Milan but a former captain of the national team with 80 caps for The Panthers, convinced Aubameyang that Gabon was the country to play for.

“I was very young when I decided,” he told the Arsenal website. “Players often take their time to consider their options and make the right choice, but for me the choice was clear.

“I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps. He was captain of the national side in the past.

“I could well have chosen to play for Spain or France. I played for the French under-21 team, but I realised very quickly that in my heart I wanted to emulate my father.”

Aubameyang has 49 caps for his country and has scored 19 goals.