Priority to cling to Aubameyang
Arteta wants to build a squad around FA Cup hero.
Mikel Arteta hopes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will stay at Arsenal to lead the Gunners to more success after scoring twice to beat Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
Arsenal captain Aubameyang dropped the trophy before lifting his first piece of silverware since moving to English football from Borussia Dortmund two-and-ahalf years ago.
Victory secured Arsenal’s place in the Europa League next season as they risked missing out on European football for the first time in 25 years after finishing eighth in the Premier League.
But with Aubameyang facing another season without Champions League football and just one year left on his contract at the Emirates, the Gabon international has been linked with a move away this summer.
“He needs more experience with trophies. We can get him used to that,” joked Arteta at Aubameyang’s mishap with the trophy lift.
“He knows what I think about him, I want to build a squad around him.”
“I think he wants to stay, it is about getting the deal done.
“I think moments like that will help to realise and give him belief that we are in the right path and he is a big part of it.”
Arteta also played his part to win a trophy in his first season in a senior managerial role after Chelsea made a blistering start in the eerie surroundings of an empty Wembley.
The Blues had already achieved their primary goal from Frank Lampard’s first season in charge by securing a place in next season’s Champions League last weekend and started confidently as Christian Pulisic’s composed finish opened the scoring just five minutes in.
“We got complacent, we took time on the ball like it was a stroll and we allowed them into the game,” said Lampard.
Arteta managed to reorganise the Gunners during the first-half drinks break to change the momentum of the game.
Chelsea were hit by two big injury blows either side of half-time as Azpilicueta and Pulisic pulled up with hamstring injuries.
Worse was to come for Lampard’s men when Mateo Kovacic was inexplicably sent off for what looked like the slightest touch on Granit Xhaka, – AFP