Mikel Arteta puts Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pressure on Arsenal board in contract update
Posted Thursday, July 02, 2020 by Express.co.uk
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has offered a huge update on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's future at the Emirates.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remains "positive" that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will sign a new long-term contract after his two-goal display in Wednesday night's win over Norwich and insists the attacker is "willing" to stay at the club.
The Gabon international fired the Gunners in front on 33 minutes, capitalising from Tim Krul's error to roll the ball into an empty net.
And just four minutes later, he helped set up Granit Xhaka for the hosts' second goal of the night with a clever outside-of-the-boot flick.
Although the relegation-threatened Canaries improved after the break, Aubameyang delivered the killer blow after the hour mark, taking advantage of another error to make it 3-0.
Arsenal ended up 4-0 winners as debutant Cedric Soares scored from the edge of the box soon after coming on from the bench.
Mikel Arteta puts Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pressure on Arsenal board in contract update (Image: GETTY)
Mikel Arteta puts Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pressure on Arsenal board in contract update (Image: GETTY)
But it was Aubameyang who stole the headlines, with his brace putting him level with Jamie Vardy on 19 top-flight goals in the battle for the Golden Boot.
The 31-year-old's future also remains a hot topic, with his current contract at the Emirates set to expire in 12 months' time.
That leaves Arsenal facing a potential decision as to whether to sell him this summer below his market value because of the coronavirus pandemic or let him leave on a free transfer next year.
But those decisions will only need to be made if Aubameyang does not commit his future to Arsenal by signing a new contract, and Arteta remains optimistic his 22-goal striker will do just that.
Yet the Arsenal manager upped the pressure on the club's board - insisting that Aubameyang is "willing" to stay and making it clear it is up to their hierarchy to make him the right offer.
"[He's] A player that is able to score as many goals as he has in that short a space of time tells you everything about his importance to us," the Spanish coach said post-match.
"We need players that can make the difference in any moment of the game every three days in different competitions.
"That's a big task to have and he's done that at different clubs. He's willing to stay with us. He's really happy where he is. He can see what we're trying to do.
"Hopefully he can evolve as well, some parts of his game that he can improve. We're pushing him every day towards that.
"How many goals can he score? Hopefully at least another 100! I don't know, I'm not a magician.
"What he has achieved today to be the fastest to score 50 in the history of this football club tells you everything about his mentality and the way he works every day on his finishing and helping the team.
"He decided to be better and better every day so hopefully we can keep him here for a longer period."
Asked if a new deal will be done before the season ends, Arteta added: "I don't know. I leave that to the football club and the senior people that drive those contracts.
"Auba knows really well my thoughts towards him, the project I want to create and that I want him in that.
"I am positive and I will remain positive we can keep him here for many years, but things have to progress."
Speaking to BT Sport after the final whistle, Aubameyang declared that he is confident the north Londoners are continuing to improve under Arteta.
Told that his team-mates would love him to follow suit after Bukayo Saka signed a new contract earlier today, Aubameyang said: "Yeah I know and I'm really happy that Bukayo signed da ting.
"Now we'll see, we'll talk with the club and we'll see what's going to happen.
"First of all I'm really focused on the games and this end of the season. So we'll see.
"Since Mikel is in we're doing well. We're working very well. We have good signs that we're improving."
Aubameyang now stands on 51 Premier League goals and became the fastest Arsenal player ever to reach a half-century of goals in England's top tier.
Mikel Arteta puts Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pressure on Arsenal board in contract update (Image: GETTY)
He beats Arsenal legend Thierry Henry in doing so, having reached the landmark in four fewer games than the Frenchman.
Asked about the record, the African said: "[I'm] Really proud, really proud. But first of all I'm proud of the team, what we did today.
"I think we deserved the win because we did a great job. Everyone worked very well today so I'm really happy and proud.
"Yeah I think I'm really happy today, my performance was, I think, good. I'm always happy to score goals and to help the team to win games."
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