Robbie Keane has stated that he ‘can’t understand’ why Arsenal haven’t locked down Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a long-term contract, as he told Stadium Astro.
Aubameyang is Arsenal’s most important player, but it’s evident to all that he could potentially leave the club this summer because he has less than 12 months to run on his contract.
This isn’t the first time that a first-team or senior player has found themselves in such a situation at Arsenal.
Former Spurs man, Keane, pointed that out and expressed that he is baffled how such a ‘top player’ isn’t secured down.
“From a Tottenham point of view, I hope Aubamayang goes,” Keane joked. “He’s a top player. Unbelievable player. How they haven’t locked him down is beyond me.
“It seems to me over the last few years that Arsenal have always done this with their main players. Let their contracts run out. Which I can’t understand for the life of me.
“How you let someone like Aubameyang, with the number of goals he scores this season. He is the captain of the club. That they haven’t, even last year, set him down and said ‘listen, give you a pay rise or whatever it may be’ and give him a four or five-year contract. How they haven’t done that now is beyond me.”
The easiest decision of all would be to add a few more years to Aubameyang’s current deal, but nothing is seemingly moving forward on that front.
If both parties – Arsenal and Aubameyang – are unable to agree to a deal then they may find that they have to sell him when the transfer window opens or risk losing him on a free next season.
From a financial perspective, Arsenal would take yet another big hit and then lose such a key player during a period where Mikel Arteta is trying to rebuild for the long-term.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
