Mikel Arteta has discussed the possibility of resting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ahead of the FA Cup final against Chelsea on August 1.
Arsenal play twice [against Aston Villa and Watford] before then but these games could still prove crucial in their hunt for Europa League qualification through their league position.
Currently, Arsenal are 10th with 53 points. They sit a point behind eighth placed Sheffield United with a game in hand, five points off Spurs in seventh with a game in hand and six points of Wolves in sixth with a game in hand.
As well as deciding whether it is best to rest Aubameyang - who is in the running for the Golden Boot with 20 Premier League goals to Jamie Vardy's 23 - Arteta made his thoughts on the striker's future clear once again.
"That’s what I did a little bit against Liverpool [rest him], to throw him in a moment in the game which I felt was going to give him a better chance and as well be a bit fresher for the semi-final. But these players want to play every single minute, they are so competitive and that’s what makes them so good," he said.
"I don’t know [if there is an option for him to stay without extending]. Plan A is to extend his contract and make sure we can keep him here."
With just two games until Arsenal return to Wembley, the FA Cup final will be firmly in the minds of players and fans alike. Arteta trusted his youngsters in the early rounds but has depended on his experienced players more, the deeper Arsenal have gotten in the tournament.
Despite the excellent showing against Manchester City in the semi-final, the Spaniard is ensuring that those performances alone won't get players into the starting XI. Instead they will have to use these games against Villa and Watford, and the subsequent training sessions to prove they're worthy of starting against Chelsea.
"The feeling that you are left with a player today, tomorrow and the next day is what is valuable for the coach," he added.
"Not what they done a week or two weeks ago. So they have to try to earn it in every training session and every time they are on the football pitch.
"Obviously you can sense the hunger and everyone wants to be involved, playing minutes and we’ll have to manage that to get into that position in the best possible condition.”
