You will struggle not to see his name on the score-sheet, a future legend and goal-scoring hero Patrick-Emerick Aubameyang has finally signed a new contract to the relief of Gunner-fans. But the anticipation of a potential departure was not a comfortable wait for Arsenal and their fans.
Inter Milan and Barcelona were sharp to make an offer for the 31-year-old striker during the transfer window. His contract was due to expire at the end of the 2020/2021 season, meaning he would have been able to discuss plans with other clubs starting in January.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta played a crucial part in securing the new deal with Aubameyang, Arteta said:
“it’s my job and Arsenal’s job to convince him (Aubameyang) that the club had the ambition, that Arsenal was the place for him, that they would sign for the right players and challenge for trophies.”
The Gabon native has been punishing the opposition with his goal-scoring antics of late. When the new English Premier League season started last week, he went straight back to work scoring against Fulham.
Prior, he was scoring against Manchester City and Chelsea to collect the FA Cup and not forgetting his 12th-minute banger against EPL champions Liverpool as Arsenal collected more silverware in the FA Community Shield.
If you are looking to earn a quick dollar, it would not be crazy to take an interest in Aubameyang’s available odds. Bookmakers tend to offer reasonable prices on the ‘anytime goalscorer’ market, and with seventy-two goals in 111 appearances in all competitions, it makes sense. Sportsbook Review has all the best available prices for the English Premier League.
“It was imperative that our main focus this summer was to sign Pierre-Emerick”, said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta:
“He’s a superb player with an incredible mentality. Being the player to have taken the least amount of time to reach 50 goals with this club tells you everything you need to know about him and his way of working. He is an important leader for the team and a big part of what we are building. He wants to be up there with the best players in the world and leave his mark. He can achieve that here.”
Since he arrived at the Emirates for 56 million pounds, the 2015 African Footballer of the year has been such an influence and leader at the club he is now the team captain. In eighty-six English Premier League appearances he is scored fifty-five goals and made twelve assists.
However, he will not be alone this summer as Arsenal brought former Chelsea striker Willian to ease the goal-scoring independence they currently put on Aubameyang.
Had Aubameyang not signed with the Gunners, it could have been a catastrophic blow to the club’s current momentum. The Arsenal re-build has been a blessing for fans and lovers of the sport alike, a historic club with a considerable history in football deserve to get back on track. The respect, discipline and drive that Mikel Arteta has brought to the club are undeniable, losing Arsenal’s key-man could have damaged his future-plans severely.
The reality is, Arsenal Is a talented squad but without their crucial striker there is a good chance Arsenal would not have collected any trophies this season. Two goals in the FA Cup semi-final and the final came from the man himself, so it’s a massive deal that Arteta and Aubameyang have bonded – without this relationship we might have been looking at Pierre-Emerick-Aubameyang drooped in a Barcelona jersey.
It has been a tense wait to hear about a new contract, but now Arsenal fans can rest easy. Knowing that Aubameyang has complete faith in his new manager and stated “I want to be an Arsenal legend” will help Arsenal fanatics sleep easy. He joined the Gunners in 2018 and won the Premier League Golden Boot in his first full season, with the new three-year deal signed he would be with the club at a mature age of thirty-four.
“Signing for this special club was never in doubt,” he said.
“I believe in Arsenal. We can achieve big things together. We have something exciting here, and I believe the best is to come for Arsenal.”
Dipo Olowookere