Gunners get Shield

Aubameyang seals Community glory for Arsenal

London, Aug. 30: Mikel Arteta claimed Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is close to signing a new contract after the Gunners beat Liverpool 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the Community Shield on Saturday.

Aubameyang put Arteta’s side ahead in the first half at Wembley with a typically eye-catching strike.

Japan’s Takumi Minamino equalised with his first goal for Liverpool late in the second half of the annual pre-season friendly between the Premier League champions and FA Cup winners.

In the shoot-out, Liverpool’s young striker Rhian Brewster was the only player to miss, hitting the bar with their third penalty before Aubameyang calmly dispatched the decisive spotkick.

As if Arteta needed any reminding, it was another sign of the influence wielded by his captain Aubameyang, who is yet to commit his long-term future to the club as he enters the final year.

Gabon forward Aubameyang has kept Arsenal waiting nervously during protracted talks and he demurred when asked in a post-match interview if he was ready to sign the club's contract offer.

“We are going to see, today we will just take the trophy and that is it,” he said.

Arteta has remained confident the 31-year-old will stay and he insisted his talisman’s status will be resolved to his satisfaction before the Premier League season starts on

We are close. He was magnificent in the FA Cup final and again today. Big games, big moments, big players. He is responding really well to that kind of pressure.

— MIKEL ARTETA Arsenal manager on

Aubameyang

September 12.

“We are close. He was magnificent in the FA Cup final and again today. Big games, big moments, big players. He is responding really well to that kind of pressure,” Arteta said of the contract.

For Liverpool, it was the second successive season they have lost the Community Shield on penalties after being beaten by Manchester City last term.

Earlier, cutting in from the left to reach Bukayo Saka’s pass, Aubameyang was given too much time and space by Williams.

Aubameyang made him pay with a superb curler into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area, celebrating the goal by crossing his arms in tribute to “Black Panther” actor Chadwick Boseman, who died Friday aged 43.

It was Aubameyang’s fifth goal for Arsenal at Wembley. —

AFP Arsenal players pose with the English FA Community Shield after defeating Liverpool 5-4 over penalties as the match was tied at 1-1 at the end of speculated time at the Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday. —