Aubameyang pledges to join club greats after signing new deal
Pierre-emerick Aubameyang has said he wants to “leave a legacy” at Arsenal after the club finally confirmed he had signed a new three-year contract.
Arsenal’s top scorer and captain has agreed a £250,000-a-week deal, plus bonuses, after being convinced of the club’s ambition under manager Mikel Arteta.
The 31-year-old said he wanted to become an “Arsenal legend” and that the Emirates Stadium was where he “belongs” after announcing his deal in a live stream on social media.
“Everybody knows how special this club is,” Aubameyang said. “I have seen incredible players, passionate players, invincible players.
“I dream of being one of them and staying in the hearts of the fans forever. I want to become an Arsenal legend like Thierry [Henry], [Ian] Wright, [ Tony] Adams, [Dennis] Bergkamp, too many to mention. It means so much for me to be the captain. I want to leave a legacy. This is where I belong.”
Aubameyang has scored two goals in the first two games of this season and has thrived on the left
side of Arteta’s attack since the Spaniard’s appointment in December.
He is a hugely important figure in the dressing room and is described by team-mates as a leader by example on the training ground.
Since joining Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund for £56 million in January 2018, Aubameyang has scored 72 goals in 111 appearances in all competitions. He was also the key man in Arsenal’s FA Cup win over Chelsea last month, scoring twice as Arteta’s side came from behind to lift the trophy at Wembley.
Arteta has played a crucial role in convincing Aubameyang to commit his future to the club, having been involved in negotiations.
Indeed, Arteta’s influence in such matters was one of the reasons behind his promotion from head coach to manager before the start of the new Premier League season.
“He is an important leader and a big part of what we are building,” Arteta said. “He wants to be up there with the best players in the world. He can achieve that here.”