It’s going to be a long summer for Arsenal
Arsenal are in for a long, tiresome, difficult summer after failing to qualify for the Champions League. The effects of embarrassing Europa League final defeat, which ensured they would face another season in Europe’s second tier competition, are already being felt as the club try to refresh their squad.
Reports are circulating claiming that Unai Emery is planning a huge squad overhaul this summer, with Laurent Koscielny, Calum Chambers and Shkodran Mustafi all set to leave. However, the Gunners are reportedly struggling to land the targets they want to replace them, because they’re not playing in the Champions League and they’re not Manchester United.
At the other end of the pitch, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be set to leave after just 18 months at the Emirates with several Chinese Super League clubs interested in signing the striker.
The Times are reporting that two Chinese clubs – thought to be Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai SIPG – have tried to sign Aubameyang, offering the Gabonese international £300,000 per week, significantly more than he’s currently earning at Arsenal.
Aubameyang has a few years left in the tank at 29, and was joint top goalscorer in the Premier League this (last?) season with 22 league goals for the side that finished 5th.
Chinese clubs have pursued Aubameyang in the past – just six weeks before he joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund, a move to Guangzhou Evergrande collapsed.
Should the forward leave the Emirates this summer, it will help Arsenal fund their rebuild but make them a lot less potent up front, with only Alexandre Lacazette to rely on for goals.
Still, they can still win the Emirates Cup this summer.
