Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that the onus is on the club to show Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the values and future prospects of the club.
Aubameyang is set to enter the last year of his contract and the club have been in negotiations with the Gabonese for a long time now without any progress. The 30-year-old striker is a hot prospect in Europe with top clubs like Barcelona. Real Madrid, Inter Milan ready to get his signature.
“I think it’s our responsibility to make him feel that this is the right next step in his career,” said Arteta. “In order to do that he needs to feel valued, I think he needs to feel that he belongs to us and we want him.
“And then he really needs to believe we can take this club forward in the way we want to do and he’s going to be a key player to do that
“I think at the moment I am extremely happy about the way he is performing and behaving. I think I have a really good relationship with him where we can discuss face to face a lot of things.
“So far, as far as I’m aware, I think he’s very happy at the club.”
If reports are to be trusted, the Gabonese forward demands an improved salary in the contract extensions from the Gunners, which should be near to what German midfielder Mesut Ozil makes at the club.
Here is something the club doesn’t want to agree. Additionally, Aubameyang wants to play in the Champions League next season, which will be a tough task for the Gunners.
“I think in a different context we would have liked to do things much quicker, but we have been handed really tight with time and communication as well,” Arteta added. “Obviously these unprecedented times bring a lot of uncertainty. It’s getting clearer and clearer every day that we are a step closer to getting back to playing football and we are going to move forward.
“We have many discussions with Pierre, his family and agent. I am pretty positive that we can find the right agreement for all parties.”
