Willian has urged his new Arsenal team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to commit his future to the club, admitting: ‘It is very important to me’.
The Brazilian joined the Emirates on a free transfer from Chelsea last week and is already looking forward to linking up with the Gabon forward, who scored 29 goals in all competitions in another pivotal season for the Gunners.
Aubameyang helped the team lift the FA Cup – against Willian and the Blues – and the Brazilian winger says someone of the Arsenal captain’s quality will be crucial in reaping further success and he must be tied down.
‘I joined Arsenal because we can challenge for titles but Pierre will be a big part of the plan,’ he told the Sun.
‘He has to stay — it is very important to me.’
Aubameyang has verbally agreed a deal to sign a new three-year deal worth upwards of £250,000 per-week, with club officials now putting the finishing touches on the deal.
Willian hopes keeping him is a possibility, adding that he was excited about the prospect of putting chances on a plate for Aubameyang next season.
‘This is a guy who gets 25-30 goals a season and we have to keep a player like that.
‘He’s one of the best players in our team and somebody I want to be making chances for.’
Willian admitted his countryman and former Chelsea team-mate David Luiz lured him into joining Arsenal.
‘He [Luiz] is very happy. We played together in the national team, we played together at Chelsea, and now at Arsenal again,’ he told the club’s website.
‘I think we can do great things together, I hope so, but I’m very happy to be with him again.
‘He said, “Come to Arsenal, come to Arsenal, I want you to come!” So that was the conversation.
It’s set to be a busy summer for Arsenal, who have revamped their scounting system and are planning to make changes to their squad.
The club are close to signing Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes while the likes of Sokratis and Calum Chambers have been linked with an exit.
COMMENTS