I Think Auba Wants To Stay

I know I'm quite late to the party on this one, given the noises coming out of his camp and Arteta's for a while, but there's a side to all this that I haven't seen many people talking about.

I've been living in Germany for five years, which meant I was here for most of his Dortmund career, especially in the build up to his sale to us. I think it's fair to say (and Gunnerthru will probably back me up on this) that Auba was never truly loved there. In particular, they seemed to run a scorched earth campaign against him, desperate to attack his character wherever they could. I could not go to the local supermarket without seeing outright slanderous headlines against him as a money-grabbing troublemaker. It's quite hard to overstate the way the media converged on him that January, as if they were always waiting to be proven right about him.

Pierre is a flash guy. We've all seen his garishly decked out cars, archetypal footballer haircuts and general demeanor. It is fair to say that these things have counted against him across his career, which has made many blind to his many qualities.

It does not count against him at Arsenal. I will never forget the way he set about integrating himself in this club. That penalty he gave to Lacazette, when we all assumed he was there simply to replace him, is still my favourite Auba moment, more than any of the goals. We were perhaps lucky to get him at a time when he was an easier character to understand, but we nonetheless show him the love and respect he deserves. He is rightfully our captain. A man who dotes on the youngsters, is more than willing to do the donkey work if the game demands and who has a very clear sense of how to be professional and still have fun.

Arteta himself stated that he had the wrong idea about Aubameyang before rejoining Arsenal. It is very easy to take one look and consider him the classic vapid, self-obsessed primadonna. I suspect he feels at home with Arsenal in a way he hasn't elsewhere. It doesn't hurt that he's in London, either.

Trophies matter, and he has a hunger to win. But, even in football, there are other things in life. This is probably a big part of why he wants to stay, having found a home.

I could, of course, be wrong. Other concerns and events may override things and who could begrudge him a move to Barca for one last hurrah? Still, it is clear that he is still enjoying his time with us and that counts for something given the state of the club over the last few years.