According to the Telegraph, Arsenal are ready to pull off yet another coup this summer. Only this time, instead of signing a new player, they are keen on extending the contract of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The club’s head of football Raul Sanllehi is prepared to offer the Gabonese international the opportunity to earn as much as top earner Mesut Ozil through bonuses if the club secures qualification for the Champions League next season.
Aubameyang’s spell at Arsenal so far
Aubameyang initially joined Arsenal at the start of last year, in a €63.7 million move from Borussia Dortmund. The 30-year-old was a star in the Bundesliga, having scored 98 goals in just 141 matches in the German top flight. And the ex-St. Etienne continued his scoring record in the Premier League as well.
He scored as many as ten goals in just 13 matches during the remainder of the 2017/18 campaign. Last season, the Gabonese international netted 22 goals in 36 games, ending the campaign as the league’s joint topscorer alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
And Aubameyang has started this season on a positive note as well, notably scoring the winner of both the Newcastle United and Burnley games. He is now already regarded as one of the most lethal strikers in Europe.
What could Arsenal lose if “Auba” leaves?
Aubameyang has impressed the onlookers with his intelligent movements in the final third. The 30-year-old may not be able to muscle through the opposition defence. But, what he lacks in physicality, he more makes up for it with his incredible positioning.
Indeed, the ex-Dortmund talisman has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. It is mainly a reason why most of his goals have come from tap-ins, though the striker is also capable of scoring from outside the box. That being said, Aubameyang tends to miss chances while he also struggles to keep hold of the ball or beat defenders in the final third.
Should Arsenal extend the contract of Aubameyang?
It’s no secret that Aubameyang has attracted the interest of top clubs across Europe, including Manchester United. His current contract in north London expires at the end of next season, meaning the Gunners could be pressurised into selling him next summer.
It is, thus, a no brainer that Arsenal should look to extend the contract of their star striker this summer. However, it would perhaps have been better if they had sold Ozil, who consumes a chunk of Arsenal’s wage budget due to his hefty £350k a week contract.
