The legendary Liverpool defender believes the Gabon International striker is too good to play with the Arsenal’s current squad. The 30-year-old is arguably the best player for the Gunners this season as well. After arriving at the North London club in 2018 from German side Borussia Dortmund, Aubameyang has done everything right for his club thus fur. In 97 appearances for Arsenal, Aubameyang has scored 61 goals.
He has also provided another 13 assists in all competitions. Carragher believes it will be difficult for Arsenal to keep hold of him this summer. They have to convince him to stay if they want to be in the Champions League.
What Carragher Said About Aubameyang
“It is not easy to find goal scorers. I would keep him – he gives Arsenal a greater chance of getting into the top four.” – Carragher told Sky Sports of the decision facing Mikel Arteta and the Gunners board.
“Towards the end of my career [Liverpool] were in this situation quite a lot where you are just missing out on the top four,”
“It is okay saying we have rules in place and saying we never let players go on a Bosman ruling, but if you are Mikel Arteta I would be looking at it and thinking: have we got more of a chance – even if he goes for nothing next year – of getting to the Champions League before next season if Aubameyang stays? That’s the decision they have got to make.”
It was a similar situation for Liverpool a few years back. It was the time when they had Luis Suarez and Phillippe Coutinho in their ranks. They could not afford to keep hold of them because both the players were too good for them at that time. Both the players could not afford to lose the chance to join La Liga giants FC Barcelona. It is where they had more chances to win trophies every season.
“At this stage, there I no doubt about it: Aubameyang is too good for Arsenal. We had that at Liverpool at times with Luis Suarez and certain players you are desperate to keep hold of.”
He Concluded By Saying
“You are thinking as a club that you want to build around this player and if that player goes, you almost feel like you’re starting again. That’s the problem you have when you are trying to get back into the top four and establish yourself as Arsenal are trying to do.”
“That will be a decision for them. It is okay saying, ‘if he does not want to be there then let him go’, but it is not easy when you are at a club and have a player with such star quality who is probably nailed on every season to be there or thereabouts for the Golden Boot.”
Mikel Arteta is building a team at the Emirates after being appointed the head coach of Arsenal a few months back replacing Unai Emery. There have been improvements since he took charge. Arsenal was struggling at 14th position in the Premier League table when he arrived leaving the job of an assistant coach under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Aubameyang has a tough decision to make whether he wants to stay or go somewhere he can achieve something.
There is no update on the contract situation at present. Things can really pick up in the upcoming days. Everything will depend on how Arsenal performs once the Premier League resumes. If they play positive football, the Gunners could actually retain his services. Only time will tell, as the Londoners try to get back their mojo.
