Arsenal take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final this weekend and there have been some whispers that this will be the last time Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang takes the field for the Gunners.
The Gabon international has one year left on his current deal at the Emirates and if the club cannot make him sign a new deal soon enough then they will have no other option but to let him leave during the current transfer window.
But when asked about Aubameyang’s potential exit, Mikel Arteta remained adamant that Arsenal will be able to hold onto their star player, especially if they can lift the FA Cup this weekend.
“I don’t have that feeling,” said Arteta when asked if the game against Chelsea would be Aubameyang’s last, as reported by the BBC.
“Winning the trophy helps you believe. If you wear the armband and lift that cup, that will help.
“I wouldn’t like to link these two factors [keeping Aubameyang and European football], but financially it would be helpful. We’ve got an opportunity to do both,
“It’s a package. You need a lot of ingredients on the table to persuade a player. At the moment he is with us and I think he should be proud of where he is.
“It generates trust when you win titles. It generates moments when together you go through some good emotions.
“When you are in a process of [development] that makes it even more important. We have a great opportunity tomorrow – let’s go for it.”
Will winning the FA Cup help hold onto Aubameyang?
If Arsenal can win the FA Cup by beating Chelsea they will be able to play in the Europa League next season which is a strong point in trying to hold onto Aubameyang.
Champions League is where the forward clearly belongs but if he can get his desired wages at Arsenal then we don’t think he will have too much of an issue in playing in the second tier of Europe for one more season.
Arsenal need to make Aubameyang put pen on paper to a new deal and if they can manage to lift the FA Cup then surely the North London club will make a strong case in their favour.
