Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s contract is set to expire next year.
Mikel Arteta believes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can be persuaded to extend his contract – provided Arsenal show that they value him and can deliver the Champions League football he craves. The Arsenal striker is out of contract next summer and the Gunners can ill afford to let another star player get into the final year of his current deal.
As a result, they will look to cash in on Aubameyang if he refuses to sign an extension.
Arteta, though, feels Arsenal can help make the decision for him.
“We have had many discussions with Pierre, his family and his agent and I am pretty positive we can find the right agreement for all parties,” he said.
“It is our responsibility to make him feel that this is the right next step in his career.
“He needs to feel valued. He needs to feel that he belongs to us and we want him, and then he really needs to believe that we can take this club forward the way we want to do.
“He’s going to be a key player to do that and at the moment I’m extremely happy with how he’s been performing and behaving.
“I have a really good relationship with him and we can discuss face to face a lot of things, and so far as I’m aware he is very happy at the club.”
Aubameyang, 31 this week, is clearly torn. “It is a turning point in my career,” he told French media, and it would “certainly be a very difficult decision to make.”
Arsenal are in ninth place ahead of their game in hand against Manchester City on Wednesday and Arteta admits that being able to offer Aubameyang a Champions League stage could be crucial.
“It would help persuade anybody but we are very lucky to have the club that we have behind us because we have a lot of players who want to come and join us,” he said.
“But it is not about what players we can attract, but how happy the players are who are here and how convinced they are that they are at the right place.
“It is our obligation almost to be fighting for every trophy that includes the Champions League as well.”
