Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that he is optimistic that club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will put an end to recent speculation by signing a contract extension with the club.
Aubameyang’s current contract with the north London club is due to expire at the end of next season and he has been linked with moves to the likes of Inter and Barcelona among other clubs.
The player himself has recently admitted that he will hold talks with the club and see what happens and Arteta has revealed that he wants to keep the 31-year-old around for a long time.
“I am very positive with that. He knows what we are trying to do here. Hopefully he will be here for a long time,” Arteta explained to the media following his side’s 4-0 triumph over Norwich last night.
Aubameyang joined the Gunners back in January 2018 from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund and he has since made 101 appearances for the club, in which he has scored 63 goals and provided 14 assists.
This season he has made 36 appearances, in which he has scored 22 goals and tallied two assists.