Gunners legend Ray Parlour has given his verdict on the Aubameyang conundrum at Arsenal. He said that the club should go ahead and sell the Gabonese striker if he refuses to sign a contract extension.
Former Arsenal midfielder is praying that the Gabonese forward signs the extension but also wants his former club to sell him if he refuses to sign. Aubameyang’s contract is set to expire at the end of next season and if the Gunners don’t tie him down to a new contract, he will leave for free in 2021. Aubameyang has been Arsenal’s most important player since his arrival from Dortmund. He has scored 61 goals in just 97 appearances for the Gunners.
“I think you’ve got to sell him if he doesn’t sign a contract, and then take the money and try to replace him,” said the Romford Pele on Friday’s talkSPORT Breakfast.
“It’s really difficult to keep a player if he doesn’t want to stay.
“It’s a big decision to make, but I don’t know what sort of money you could get for him if he doesn’t want to stay. If you get a good fee for him then you have to try and go out and replace him.
“That is difficult, but it has happened at every single club when players come to the last year of their contract.
“I’m praying that he wants to stay and Arsenal can sign him on a new contract and he can be there for the next two or three years under [Mikel] Arteta.
“It all depends on the manager as well, if they get on, and also if he feels the club is going forward.
“That is the big decision the club have got to make, but hopefully he stays.”
Ray Parlour joined Arsenal at a young age of 16 and made his debut against Liverpool in 1992. He was an integral part of the Gunners squad since the start of the Premier League era to 2004. He made 466 appearances for the London club and won three Premier League titles in the process.
