Mikel Arteta says Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang knows exactly how he feels about him as he discusses the striker’s future at the club.
There have been plenty of rumours around Aubameyang’s future and it certainly seemed like had Unai Emery remained Auba would have been off.
But he seems a man reborn and, if Arsenal can claim Champions League football, he might just stay.
Then again, he’s always wanted to play in Spain for one of the big sides and this could realistically be his last chance.
Still, he was happy enough to dismiss the rumours recently. “I would also like to react to some of the rumours that are going around about me in the media,” he wrote in his captain’s notes recently.
“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.
“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.”
At his press conference following Auba’s red card against Palace on Saturday, Arteta was asked bout the forward’s future.
“I was very pleased to read those comments,” Arteta replied.
“He knows exactly what I think about him. Obviously, he is a massive player for us.
“But at the moment we are in the middle of the season and we haven’t discussed anything further than that at the club.
“My intention is to keep Auba because we are stronger and closer to winning football matches. Am I confident he will sign? I don’t know.
“We haven’t discussed that. But I am confident he is happy here because that’s what he said.”
That’s a reply you would expect when you think about it.
What good will talking do about anything at this point? It’s on the pitch we need to get it together. The summer is a long way off yet.