Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he is hopeful of convincing captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to sign a new contract at the Emirates.
The 30-year-old has been linked with Barcelona and Inter Milan in recent months with his current deal expiring in 2021 and speaking after Sunday’s 3-2 win over Everton, Arteta did not make any promises regarding the Gabonese international’s future:
“He wants to play in the biggest competitions and with the best players. We have to help him do that. He needs to feel fulfilled. He is our most important player, no doubt the impact he has in this team. We will have to convince him to stay with us.”
Some fans on Twitter are concerned by the comments:
he’s gonna be leaving us at the end of season it’s our luck. We always loose our best players at the wrong time we lost Sanchez van persie but never mind we will come again. The only way he will stay is if we win Europa or qualify for champions league . U can’t really blame him
— Gooner donz (@kingdon1) 23 February 2020
New contracts news needed!
— AUBAGANG (@WoolWitchGooner) 23 February 2020
On my knees
— evan 》 (@afcevan) 23 February 2020
Auba please
— MWAMI (@9491_Leonardo) 23 February 2020
Please he should be convinced
— ICUMIN2MINUTES?? (@austinesmith28) 23 February 2020
Others are optimistic that Aubameyang won’t need much convincing to stay:
Auba is going nowhere
— Cabogute (@cabogute) 24 February 2020
my captain is staying please
— oo (@Sch1z0_) 23 February 2020
Make it happen
— @batenga#?⚪Army (@BatengaJamirah) 24 February 2020
Convince him? It’s Arsenal , that’s enough !
— Danny Britton (@DannyBritton14) 23 February 2020
It’s a delicate situation. One thing that is clear from Arteta’s comments is that Aubameyang is keen to play in the Champions League, and it must be said the Gunners only have an outside chance of achieving that aim this season.
The forward will have 12 months to run on his contract in the summer, and it’s very likely no decision will be made until then when it’s clearer what competitions Arsenal will be playing in next campaign.
