Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has stated his belief that the club is close to agreeing terms with star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabonese international has entered the final year of his contract with the Gunners and has been in talks over extending the deal to avoid leaving the club on free next season.
Latest developments suggests that after months of stalling, all parties are close to agreeing new terms, with Arteta stating that the renewal would be signed very soon.
Mikel Arteta says Arsenal will be resolving Aubameyang's contract situation 'very soon'.
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) September 12, 2020
The Spaniard led his side to a 3-0 victory over Fuham in the opening game of the new season, with new signing Willian the star of the show, with the Brazilian having a hand in all three of Arsenal’s goals.
After the match, Arteta was quizzed on Aubameyang’s future and he said:
“I’m really positive we are going to get it done very soon and hopefully in the next few days you will get some news.”
The 31-year-old scored the third goal of the game, continuing his record of having scored in every match he has played against Fulham and Alexandre Lacazette also shares this feat alongside Aubayemang.
It was his close-range finish that opened the scoring, making the Frenchman the only man in history to have scored the opening goal of two different Premier League campaigns.
He has, however, been linked with a move away from the Emirates but the former Lyon man quahed rumors of a departure, saying:
“I’m really happy. It’s only the press who say l am unhappy and l want to leave.
“But me, from the beginning, I have said I am happy with Arsenal and I want to play and win titles. We won a title last month, so I am happy with Arsenal.”
World-class Aubameyang crucial to Arteta’s rebuilding plans at Arsenal
The last few years have been really unflattering for Arsenal but Mikel Arteta has brought a semblance of stability to the club since his appointment in January.
Despite the shock exit at the hands of Olympiakos in the Europa League last season, there is cause for optimism among fans of the Gunners and their young manager has won two trophies in just nine months in charge.
Two of his new arrivals shone in the victory over Fulham, with Willian and Gabriel Magalhaes each proving their mettle but it is positive news of Aubameyang’s contract situation that would truly have fans dreaming again.
The former Dortmund man has been nothing short of a revelation since signing for Arsenal in January 2018 and his contract impasse was hardly encouraging for a side hoping to build for the future.
In many ways, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a one-man army for Arsenal and his extreme importance to the club’s case can hardly be underestimated, while he also doubles as skipper of the side.
Proof of his superb ability lies in the fact that he won the Premier League Golden Boot in his first full season at the Emirates, while nobody has outscored him since he arrived in England and he was recently voted Player of the Year by fans of the club.
It is no hidden secret that Mikel Arteta is hoping to guide Arsenal back to the summit of the game and if he is to achieve this lofty goal, it is essential that Aubameyang remains at the Emirates.
