BAM... NOW KEEP HIM!
Arteta must get star man to pen new Gunners deal
NOW, where’s that pen?
You know the one which Pierre-emerick Aubameyang is going to grab, sign that longterm contract and commit himself to Arsenal for the rest of his career.
Legions of Gunners’ fans can hardly wait for news that the thirty-something is going to see out his playing dotage in north London, standing shoulder-toshoulder with boss Mikel Arteta. And who can blame them? The l atest signal from Wembley after the Gunners triumphed on penalties is positive – because if the Gabon international is leaving, then he’s making a good fist of hiding his emotions.
There was no holding back when he lifted the FA Cup just four weeks ago. That toothy grin was one mile wide.
And, as he ran to the corner flag with his ecstatic team-mates in hot pursuit after firing the decisive shoot-out penalty past Alisson yesterday to claim the Community Shield, he looked very much at home.
For the second time in four weeks Aubameyang stood atop a podium and collected silverware
Scorer of a delightful opener yesterday and a genuine A-lister in front of goal, he appears to have all the ingredients to be everything to Arteta was that Thierry Henry became for Arsene Wenger.
To borrow a phrase from another club... a captain, leader, legend. Will he turn his back on the progress that Arsenal are making under Arteta? Surely not.
To be fair, the striker could do a lot worse. At 31 years of age and with the Gunners certain to ask an eye-watering sum should he turn down a £250,000-a-week deal, his options may be limited anyway. It seems like a significant moment in Arsenal’s post
Wenger history. Arteta has masterminded victories over Manchester City, Chelsea and a shoot-out triumph over runaway leaders Liverpool in the last couple of months.
The signs are good. The club is in gear again. The methods may be different but the results are improving.
Ironically, Aubameyang’s opening 12th-minute goal bore all the hallmarks of a Wenger team. The ball was knocked out from keeper Emiliano Martinez via Rob Holding to Hector Bellerin who fed a pass down the right where Bukayo Saka collected and cut inside before finding the goalscorer lurking with intent on the opposite flank. Reds’ teenage right-back Neco Williams may be a hot prospect. But he’s not at Trent Alexander-arnold’s level. In fairness, few are.
What the 19-year-old rightback should have done, was show Aubameyang onto his weaker left foot. However, that is far easier to propose than carry out in practice. And, as we all know, hindsight is wonderful.
Williams hesitated. And that was all the encouragement Aubameyang needed, curling a beauty around Alisson from the edge of the area. It used to be one of Henry’s trademark finishes. Liverpool slowly asserted themselves but the front three never really fired in tandem. Denied space, they found chances difficult to come by.
Andy Robertson provided the main threat before the break with teasing left-wing centres that were not finished.
Jurgen Klopp threw on Naby Keita who added pace and energy to a lacklustre midfield. But his most effective switch was Takumi Minamino who levelled with one quarter to go.
Mo Salah hit the overdrive button, injected panic into Arsenal’s defence and, as the ball bobbled around, the Japanese pounced to sidefoot his first for the club.
Gunners’ keeper Emiliano Martinez deserves a mention, twice stopping from Sadio Mane before ref Andre Marriner called time. As for the spot kicks, Rhian Brewster missed his... Aubameyang didn’t (left).
Arsenal stood firm. There was no wobble. Joy followed. That winning feeling is back – and it really would be something for Aubameyang to walk away now.