The outcome of the FA Cup final against Chelsea on Saturday could influence the future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal as the Gunners try to persuade the Gabonese international to extend their contract, believes Mikel Arteta.
Given Arsenal’s financial predicament, selling in the close season would make sense if he could not be convinced to extend his contract.
At Emirates, Aubameyang has only one year left to run on his contract.
Aubameyang has only two major trophies to his name in St Etienne and Borussia Dortmund with cup wins, despite his strike rate as one of the deadliest forwards in Europe over the past six years.
Arteta captained Arsenal to two FA Cup wins during his playing career and believes experiencing that success could persuade Aubameyang to trust the club is heading in the right direction.
“No, I don’t have that feeling,” Arteta said Friday when asked if Aubameyang’s final game for the club could be Saturday’s clash.
“At the end, it’s a package. You need a lot of ingredients on the table to convince a player of his level to be at this football club.”
“Never forget he’s still having a contract with us here. We want to do it on a long-term basis, he’s with us at the moment and he really should be proud of where he is.”
“Winning a trophy really helps you believe and feel ‘wow,’ I want more of those moments. If you’re wearing the bracelet and you’re able to lift that cup, it’s such a moment.”
Winning a trophy in his first management season would also be an enormous bonus for Arteta to prove that they can restore the former glories of Arsenal.
