Mikel Arteta is hoping victory in tomorrow’s FA Cup final can help convince Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang that Arsenal is the place to be.
The Gabon international has just one-year remaining on his current deal at the Emirates, and has drawn admiring glances from clubs across Europe.
The former Dortmund talisman has a hugely impressive goalscoring record since moving to England, scoring 54 goals in just 85 Premier League appearances for the Gunners, even in spite of the club’s recent struggles.
Despite his enviable goalscoring prowess, he has won very little in the way of silverware in his career, only winning the French Coupe de la Ligue with St Etienne and the DFB Pokal and German Supercup at Dortmund.
Having finished eighth in this season’s Premier League, the FA Cup final offers Arsenal the opportunity of not only silverware, but a place in next season’s Europa League, as well as the financial boost that comes with it, and Mikel Arteta admitted it was a big day for the club, and potentially for Aubameyang’s future.
Since his debut for Arsenal, no player has scored more Premier League goals than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. [Sky] pic.twitter.com/Ui8N8cEWd0
— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) July 28, 2020
“Yes it is,” Arteta told the media at his pre-match press conference. “I wouldn’t like to talk or link too much these two factors but it’s a reality that financially it would be really helpful.
“Obviously, in the sporting side as well because to play in Europe, for this club it’s a must, so we’ve got the opportunity to do both tomorrow.”
Arteta also thinks that winning the cup for a record 14th time would help convince Aubameyang that he is at the right place, as the club continues to try to persuade him to sign a new deal.
“Absolutely. That has a strong link with everything that you want to experience as a player,” Arteta said.
“Winning the trophy helps to really believe and feel, ‘Wow, I want to experience more of these moments.’ If you are wearing the armband and you are able to lift that cup, it’s such a moment – this is going to help for sure.”
Despite potentially losing Aubameyang for free next summer, the Spaniard – who won the Cup twice as an Arsenal player in 2014 and 2015 – doesn’t, however, feel that this could be the 31-year-old’s last game for the club.
“No, I don’t have that fear,” he added.
Fabregas opens up on his 11 year spat with Frank Lampard
See also – Five of the best FA Cup finals ever: Comebacks, shocks and the Five Minute Final
