Arteta: Winning FA Cup will Keep Aubameyang
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says winning Saturday’s Heads Up FA Cup final to secure European football next season will keep Gabon and Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the club. The 31-year-old Gabon striker has just one year left on his contract.
The Arsenal boss Arteta said: “I don’t have that feeling,” that the striker will leave when he was asked if the game against Chelsea would be Aubameyang’s last. he said: “Winning the trophy helps you believe. If you wear the armband and lift that cup, that will help.”
Arsenal finished eighth in the Premier League, outside the European qualification spots, but victory over Frank Lampard’s side at Wembley would mean a direct entry into the Europa League place for 2020-21. Former Everton and Arsenal midfielder who is now the head coach Arteta captained Arsenal to FA Cup wins in 2014 and 2015, he said winning the FA Cup will convince the striker to stay because the club is going in the right direction.
Mikel Arteta also said: “I wouldn’t like to link these two factors [keeping Aubameyang and European football], but financially it would be helpful. We’ve got an opportunity to do both.” The 38-year-old Spaniard took charge of the Gunners team as his first job in management in December after being Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.
“It’s a package. You need a lot of ingredients on the table to persuade a player. At the moment he is with us and I think he should be proud of where he is. “It generates trust when you win titles. It generates moments when together you go through some good emotions. “When you are in a process of [development] that makes it even more important. We have a great opportunity tomorrow – let’s go for it.”