Martin Keown urges Arsenal to make decision on Aubameyang, says Gunners need direction

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Arsenal legend Martin Keown has urged the club and Mikel Arteta to sort out the future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang quickly this summer. 

Aubameyang is at the centre of a ‘will he, won’t he’ situation in terms of his stay in London. It is thought the Gunners aren’t willing to pay him the big wages he wants for a new deal. Furthermore, clubs like Barcelona and Inter Milan are believed to be sniffing around.

But Keown is concerned it could once again hold the club back. And the former Arsenal stalwart has insisted things need to be sorted quickly so Mikel Arteta can move forward.

“I think he’s the nearest thing I have seen to Thierry Henry at the football club and the club will have to make swift decisions. They can’t allow what happened a few years ago with the transfers just going on and on. The club needs direction.” (Goal, via Talksport)

Aubameyang is once again the Gunners’ top scorer this season. After being a joint-winner of the Golden Boot last season, Arsenal know he will be hard to replace.

And Keown believes that is the key decision Arsenal must come to a conclusion on.

“What are they going to get? What are the offers? Because they do need to look at it and what it means to them to break into the Champions League, to maybe challenge for a Premier League.

So if they’re only going to get an offer of £20m-£30m then you have to consider whether you’re going to keep him there or not.”

If Arsenal are selling, they might as well look to sort it now – TBR View

Martin Keown can sometimes have some outlandish opinions but on this occasion, he’s definitely right.

Arsenal simply can’t afford to go into next season with Aubameyang’s future unknown. One way or another it needs to be clear. If he stays and is going to leave next year, great. If he leaves and Arsenal gets some money, then that’s also fine.

It’s the uncertainty what will kill the club. Arsenal can’t afford any more of that if they want to progress.