Mikel Arteta’s race to keep Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not yet been won.
The Arsenal captain was heavily rumored with an exit from the North London club in January but Arteta managed to thwart Barcelona for the time being.
It seemed all was well with Arsenal climbing up the table as well. However, their premature exit to Olympiakos in the Europa League has again raised questions whether Aubameyang is at the right club?
The 30 year Gabonese striker is in the form of his life. He has been involved in 59 goals and assists in the last 74 matches for Arsenal. This has naturally led to the question what is a striker of such supreme quality doing at a club who are 9th in the Premier League table and out of all options to win silverware in knockout tournaments.
With Arsenal’s exit from Europa, it seems unlikely that they will make it to the Champions League next season and now rumors have resurfaced of Barcelona rekindling their interest in Aubameyang.
The Catalan club are looking for a striker for almost one year now and may have earmarked the Arsenal captain as their marquee summer signing.
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal coach was asked about Aubameyang’s situation and Arteta’s reply was less than convincing.
“They’re completely right to want him because he’s a superb player. It’s right that the big teams like him. Hopefully we can convince him this is right place to be,” Arteta told reporters.
“He is our most important player, no doubt the impact he has in this team. We will have to convince him to stay with us.”
“He wants to play in the biggest competitions with the best players. We have to help him do that. He needs to feel fulfilled,” Spaniard Arteta added.
Arsenal are no doubt in the ascendancy but the rate at which they are progressing might not be suitable for Aubameyang given that he is already 30 years old and only has a handful of prime seasons of football left.
So while we understand why Arteta wants to keep him, it would seem by his own admission – “He wants to play in the biggest competitions with the best players” – that Aubameyang needs to move to a club which can give him that right away.
See More: Barcelona confirm interest in Arsenal captain Aubameyang
