Keeping Aubameyang ahead of next season was going to be the Gunners’ most important piece of business this summer and it looks as if they are on the brink of tying down their star man.
The Gabonese striker was phenomenal once again for his side scoring 29 goals in all competitions including a brace in last week’s FA Cup final against Chelsea which qualifies them for next season’s Europa League. Since his move to Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018, he has scored 54 goals in 85 Premier League games. His contract expires next summer but Arsenal are confident of getting him to stay beyond then. The Gunners have offered the striker a new three-year deal worth £250,000-a-week
As well has been handed a significant rise on his current £200,000-a-week wages, the 31-year-old is said to have been given assurances that Mikel Arteta will be given the funds he requires to build on the promising start he has made to his managerial career. After last month’s win over champions Liverpool, Arteta implored the club’s board to get the cheque book out in order help him further bridge the gap between Arsenal and the Premier League’s elite clubs.
A striker of his pedigree has unsurprisingly attracted interest from Europe’s elite clubs in the last couple of seasons. As recently as January, Chelsea tried to sign him but a move failed to materialise.
A summer to rebuild at the Emirates
Arteta has certainly impressed in his first few months in charge of Arsenal. His tactical astuteness and adaptability have delivered some very big results for him in the last few weeks. The FA Cup triumph at Wembley would have increased his stock in the eyes of the Arsenal hierarchy who should now see him as the man to take to Gunners forward. Arteta will coordinate his first summer window as a gaffer and will need to get so many things right if he’s to fulfil the promise that his initial season suggests.
More signings are certainly on the way as Arteta attempts to restore Arsenal to competing amongst the big boys again.
