Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is delighted that Arsenal have managed to secure new long-term contracts for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli and says both youngsters have proven themselves to be ‘such impressive players’ since breaking into the first-team.
Saka, 18, put an end to the uncertainty surrounding his future as he signed a lucrative four-year deal with the Gunners before scoring in the side’s 2-0 victory at Wolves.
Martinelli, 19, was next to commit his future to the north London club as he followed Saka in putting pen to paper on a four-year extension at the Emirates.
The teenage duo are regarded as two of the finest young players in Premier League football and Mikel Arteta will no doubt be relieved to have tied them both down this summer.
But Arteta will still be sweating over Aubameyang’s contract situation, with the striker’s current deal due to expire in 12 months’ time.
Speaking to Arsenal’s official matchday programme ahead of tonight’s clash with Leicester, Aubameyang said: ‘It was great for the club that Bukayo and Gabi signed new contracts last week.
‘They have made a big, big impact at the club even though they are only teenagers.
‘Particularly for Bukayo, it must be amazing to sign that contract and think back to when he first put on an Arsenal shirt in the academy when I think he was only six or seven.
‘Both of them are such impressive players already, they have so much to their games – as Bukayo showed with that brilliant goal on Saturday when he just guided it in so nicely.’
Aubameyang, who took a little longer to prove himself at the top level, is convinced Arsenal’s current crop of youngsters have the ‘mature attributes’ to succeed in first-team football.
‘It’s funny for me looking back because at 18 I was really raw, there was a lot more for me to learn and it took me a few years to really see all of my potential.
‘But these boys – and you can say the same about Joe and Eddie too – they already seem to have lots of mature attributes.
‘And the great thing is that they are making an impression at the highest level now, but the key is that they are hungry to work hard and really want to learn more and get better and better.’
Follow Metro Sport across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.