Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang took advantage of terrible defending by Norwich to help himself to a brace as Arsenal beat the Canaries 4-0 to rise up the table to seventh.
In so doing, the Gabon international went level with Jamie Vardy in the race for the Golden Boot – they both have 19 goals – and became the quickest Gunner ever to surpass the 50 goal milestone.
After the game, the captain was asked by BT Sport about his goal record and whether he might follow Bukayo Saka in committing his future to the club.
Here’s what he had to say
On surpassing 50 Premier League goals …
I’m really proud, really proud. First of all, I’m proud of the team for what we did today. I think we deserved the win because we did a great job. Everyone was working. I’m really happy and proud.
On his performance…
I’m really happy today. My performance was today, I think, good. I’m always happy to score goals and help the team to win games.
On whether he might sign a new deal…
I know, I know. I’m really happy that Bukayo signed da ting. No we’ll see. We’ll talk with the club and see what’s going to happen. First of all, I’m really focused on the games and this end of the season, so we’ll see.
On life under Mikel…
As I said, since Mikel is in [here], we’re doing well, we’re working very well. We have good signs that we are improving.
That sounds promising. If we win most of our remaining games and also somehow sell ozil we may just be able to afford auba’s wage demand and his ambitions.
The irony of mentioning somehow selling ozil so we can then make the same mistake on tying ourselves up on what will be no less than a 3 year deal on a 31 year old. He looks super fit now but once that speed goes or he pulls his first hamstring, that’s it. His game IS his speed and quickness. It’s not just the club it’s the supporters as well not learning. If we can’t sell then I’d rather the contract was run down
There will always be a new goalscorer…..ALWAYS
Respectfully, stop grouping 30 year old players into one single amorphous mass, and start judging individuals according to their individual performances. For every Alexis Sanchez or Ozil who loses his mojo, there’s a Santi Cazorla or Karim Benzema who gets better with age. Auba is on course for a 3rd golden boot in a row. He has not had a serious injury at Arsenal, and unlike some players (who we need not mention) he’s had no problems adapting on or off the pitch to all the managerial changes at the club. He wears the armband with pride and leads by… Read more »
Actually I agree with not automatucally grouping players based on age but how age may effect their particular game. Auba is a sprinter. Most of what makes him what he is, is that speed and quickness. Without it I personally dont beleive he’d be very effective at all. Others may and probably do disagree (I actually think he restricts our game from developing to something more effective and creative. Its just how I view the game but that’s a different point). I’m less inclined to believe he’ll even lose his speed. I suspect its far more likely his hamstring will… Read more »
“He looks super fit now”
End of. Sign him up
I hear what you are saying but just look at Vardy who turned 33 this year. If Auba works hard and stays committed, why couldn’t he have a couple of more productive years with us? If we strengthen our midfield then i could see Auba reaching 25+ goals next season. But then again, you never know. Whatever happens, i think we’ll be just fine in the long term.
Has at least another 2 years in him, we have quality so we can keep it and look for a replacement in next 2 seasons.
A little bit like today then where his two goals had nothing to do with how quickly he sprints.
Now u also Sign da Ting
Hopefully he will sign the thing
I think he likes it here and likes being captain. Covid also makes it a weird time to try and move to another city/country.
Fingers crossed!
Auba, sign da ting 🙂
Nice point @the Covid factor
Well that was an interesting response. I like Auba, his goal scoring record is phenomenal, he is apparently a good influence in the dressing room and is generally a likeable character. That response was worryingly non-committal to me so I fear he is going to be one of our players I look on fondly wishing they’d stayed…
I think that’s standard contract negotiation talk to be honest. If they (arsenal) know you want to stay they won’t offer you as good a deal becuase they know you’ll accept eventually anyway.
I really hope so. I think he likes the club and seems to be happy here. It just worries me that he doesn’t have many more years at the top and wants titles. That may not be feasible for us while he is at his peak. Oddly I find it heartening that he has been described as a problem at other clubs,because here he has been seen a great influence. Maybe he likes us enough to take a punt on becoming a gooner legend…
I’d prefer to keep him next season and just enjoy him if he doesn’t sign a new deal rather than do another Robin van persie, sell him for 25-30mil and watch him win the league for someone like man City.
If he won the league for Man City I think I’d still be happy. I can’t take Liverpool winning this again. And we’re sure as hell not winning it.
Sounds like a worryingly diplomatic response to me. Hopefully he stays, we move Laca on, Auba gets to play central where he belongs and we bring in a winger for the left side. Or give it to Saka full time.
Arteta has shown us quite clearly he’s not going to play him down the middle. He hasn’t done that once. We have 2 young excellent players who can play on the left with more rounded games. Probably won’t score as many as auba but will probably lead to us scoring more overall
Just sign “da thing” Auba.
Love Auba. I think the best business decision is to use funds from a transfer to buy in the positions we need. Hopefully, young players compatible with our overall youth movement. Yes, there are some other transfer outs that will get us some money, but he’s the honey pot.
Love Ozil or hate him, he’s just not a source of transfer funds.
I wish 2020 would cancel all this ‘sign da ting’ bollocks.
I want him to sign a new contract, sure. But sign da ting? Fucking do one.
Good news today with Saka. The higher we finish, the better we do for our prospects retaining players. The last thing we want is wholesale changes and then starting from scratch, have Arteta work to mold the team all over again. Currently we have seen ; 1) Arteta has improved some players AFTV and many fans all to easily preferred to cast blame on…. Mustafi had a good first half, two excellent cross field balls to find Tierney in an advance position (not noticed of course by people who prefer not to see it) but… Read more »