Mikel Arteta’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang contract admission as Arsenal outsmart Man United

Arteta on Aubameyang

Mikel Arteta is confident that it will not be too long before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang agrees a new Arsenal contract.

There is now under a year to run on the striker’s deal at the Emirates, meaning the pressure is on to get him to agree to sign a new contract.

Yet, speaking in his press conference ahead of Arsenal’s Community Shield clash with Liverpool, Arteta was optimistic.

“We have some really good talks with him and his agents and I am pretty confident that we can find an agreement soon.

“That’s my feeling.”

Where Arsenal outsmarted Man United

Arsenal are closing in on signing Gabriel Magalhaes.

The 22-year-old is expected to be announced as a Gunners player very soon after completing a medical.

Arsenal have beaten competition from Manchester United for his signature, with the Red Devils switching their focus to Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile.

So how do they compare?

Whilst Badiashile is three years younger than Gabriel, they are similar sort of players.

One key area where Gabriel succeeds is on the ball, averaging 8.43 passes into the final third per 90 minutes.

Arsenal receive Thiago boost

Arsenal have been handed a boost in their chase of Thiago Alcantara at Bayern Munich.

Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for the midfielder but Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says they are yet to hear anything from Anfield about the player.

It could well open the door to the Gunners signing the Spanish international.

“Yesterday we had the appointment with our employees and his whole family was there and they wandered around the square in great nostalgia (in the Allianz Arena), I would almost say.

“That looked a lot like goodbye, as if he had made up his mind.”