Arsenal boss Arteta gives major update on Aubameyang’s uncertain future

Mikel Arteta intend to Keep Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang amid exit rumours

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he is unsure whether Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will remain at the club.

The Gabonese forward is out of contract at the end of next season, which could prompt Arsenal to cut their losses in the summer if he is not keen on an extension, though Arteta is hopeful he’ll stay put.

“He knows exactly what I think about him and obviously he’s a massive player for us,” Arteta said.

 “But at the moment we’re in the middle of the season and we haven’t discussed anything further on that at the club.

“My intention is to keep Auba obviously because I know that if we keep Auba with us, we’re going to be stronger and closer to winning football matches. That’s the only thing.

Arteta’s comments comes three days after Aubameyang said he remains committed to the club and wants to help them challenge for major honours, dispelling speculation that the Gabon striker might want to leave the misfiring north London side.

"People like making up stories and they should focus on what's happening on the pitch. They talk too much and it does my head in!" Aubameyang wrote in the match programme ahead of the FA Cup third round tie at home to Leeds United on Monday.

"I am the Arsenal captain. I love this club. I am committed to it and desperate to bring it back to the top, where it belongs", he added.

Aubameyang has yet to sign an extension to his current contract at the Emirates Stadium, which runs until 2021.

He joined the club in January 2018 for a then-record fee for the Gunners of 56 million pounds ($74 million).

Aubameyang was left out of the Arsenal lineup for the Leeds match due to illness, manager Mikel Arteta told the BBC.