Wright on “most important deal” Arsenal and Arteta can make this summer

Ian Wright says Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang signing a new contract would be the Gunners’ best deal of the summer.

The FA Cup winners have completed the capture of Brazilian pair Willian and £27 million defender Gabriel Magalhaes, and manager Mikel Arteta wants at least two more new faces ahead of the Premier League kick-off on September 12.

But Gunners legend Wright, who scored 195 goals in 288 games for the club, believes keeping hold of 31-year-old Aubameyang will be “imperative” if Arteta, who lifted the Community Shield after a penalty shoot-out against Liverpool at the weekend, is to enjoy further success.

Aubameyang hit 29 goals in all competitions for Arsenal last season and his current deal expires next summer.

And although Arteta is confident the Gabon striker will sign a new contract, there have been no puffs of white smoke above the Emirates yet to confirm an agreement.

Wright, speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, said: “To be honest, I think he will be the most significant signing Mikel can make.

“We do need to make that happen, simply because of what he brings to that team. When you look at the chances created for Arsenal, they were 16th in the league last year – and he still scored the amount of goals he scored.

“So if you can imagine, we can start creating more with the players we have signed – the Willians and people like that – then he is going to score more goals. It is imperative that he signs.”

Aubameyang, who hit both goals in the FA Cup final win over Chelsea, began the new campaign just as he finished the previous one.

He opened the scoring against Liverpool in style before potting the winning spot-kick in the shoot-out at Wembley, fuelling the sense of optimism around Arsenal – who have now won four trophies, plus the Community Shield four times, since arch-rivals Tottenham last lifted silverware.

Following the free transfer swoop for Willian, on a three-year deal from London rivals Chelsea, and the move for 22-year-old Gabriel from Lille, Arteta has also sealed another season-long loan for midfielder Dani Ceballos.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey is Arteta’s next target – although Arsenal may have to offload players first to balance the books.

Wright praised Arteta, who was only appointed in December, for changing the culture at the club, adding: “When you look at our manager he is a very focused, driven guy and knows exactly what Arsenal are about.

“When you look at the transformation under Mikel Arteta, you have to say we are on the right track and that is the only thing you want to worry about right now.

“It is still a long way to go with what other teams are doing at the moment – you look what Chelsea are doing, Man City are doing and what Liverpool are going to do, what Man United are going to do.

“We have to just worry, as Arsenal, what we are doing and the slow progress we are making at the moment.”