Aubameyang’s intention during negotiations was never to leave. His intention now is to captain the club to further levels of success, to win more silverware and to grab Thierry Henry’s considerable goal-scoring record.
Perhaps Aubameyang has taken note from the experience of others such as Henry himself, who went to Barcelona to win trophies but never achieved the adoration he achieved at Arsenal. When asked about Aubameyang staying, Henry said this a couple of months back:
“How can I tell him to stay when I left”
That comment suggests that there is a part of Henry that regrets the decision as much as Wenger and the Arsenal fans. There is a rather long list of star players that have left the Gunners but failed to enjoy that level of success again, trophies yes, but not that feeling of happiness, contentment and family that they were afforded at the club.
Leaving Arsenal has proved to be a painful divorce for many and the fond memories of what was becomes ever stronger once the door has finally closed. Aubameyang is one of those players that thrives on support at a managerial and coaching level. Someone who excels in the right environment if he is convinced by the direction that the team are heading in and he’s an individual that can make things happen.
He came to Arsenal perhaps as a stop gap to get away from his Dortmund dilemma and probably thought that he could put himself in the shop window for a much bigger move further down the line. However, after a few seasons he realized that he had found his Utopia, even when things were going wrong under Emery.
At that point he must have been tempted to run down his contract and exchange the chaos of the Emirates for his dream move to Barcelona. Then along came Mikel Arteta, a kindred spirit and enthusiastic coach, who connected with his player on both a professional and personal level, from that point the extension was never really in doubt.
Look back at the exchanges between the pair after winning the FA cup and Community Shield and you see two motivated, respectful figures that share the same passion and philosophy.
I’m personally convinced that had Arteta not arrived when he did we could well be waving goodbye to Aubameyang. This deal was never completely about the money, this was about belonging, feeling appreciated and respected.
They said when he arrived that the striker could prove difficult after his spat with his former club but his behaviour and professionalism has been exemplary. Arteta can now concentrate on his other key targets and prioritise the Arsenal midfield which needs an injection of quality.
With Aubameyang in the bag, it signals the beginning of a new era. One that could potentially bring more success but more importantly restore the North London club to a position where they can be considered as difficult and determined competitors. Willian said Arteta plans to win the Champions league in three seasons and it’s hard to disagree.
Arteta appears to have the persuasive powers of a hypnotist in securing the services of Saka, Willian, Gabriel and now Aubameyang. He has done so much to change Arsenal’s DNA in such a short space of time that anything seems possible.
