Sky journalist shares what he was told about Arsenal player

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Arsenal made a big statement of intent by signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a new contract earlier this week.

Following months upon months of speculation, the Gunners finally announced that the Gabon international had put pen to paper on a new three-year deal in North London.

Aubameyang joined Arsenal in the winter of 2018 and has since scored 72 goals in 111 games across all competitions.

Mikel Arteta’s side scored four goals in their FA Cup semi-final and final wins over Manchester City and Chelsea respectively, with the 31-year-old scoring all four.

He is quite simply a massively-important player for the Emirates Stadium side and, according to a Sky Sports journalist, the fans have Arteta to thank for this piece of news.

Dharmesh Sheth has revealed that Aubameyang had major doubts over the club’s direction before the Spaniard came in to replace Unai Emery in December of last year.

At the time of Emery’s sacking, Arsenal hadn’t won any of their past seven games in all competitions.

Sheth told Sky Sports News’ The Transfer Show, broadcast 5pm on 16/09: “I’m told Aubameyang was considering his future at the Emirates before Arteta arrived. He had doubts about the direction the club was going in at that stage.

“Arteta has said it was his job and Arsenal’s job to convince Aubameyang that the club had the ambition, that Arsenal was the place for him, that Arsenal would sign for the right players and challenge for trophies. It took a while but he was convinced and Aubameyang signed that new deal.”

What a difference one year can make.

Arsenal were rudderless on the field and off it when Arteta came in, but the former Manchester City assistant has had a profound impact in terms of results.

And, most importantly, he seems to have a solid working relationship with technical director Edu, who is calling the shots on transfers alongside Arteta following Raul Sanllehi’s departure.

Arsenal are most definitely a team going places and it’s no surprise that Aubameyang decided to stick around a while longer.