Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s mind is already made up over his Arsenal future, according to Rio Ferdinand.
Aubameyang, who scored a goal in each half at Wembley as the Gunners came back from behind to beat Chelsea and win their 14th FA Cup, has entered the final year of his contract and has been linked with Barcelona and Inter Milan.
The Gabonese centre-forward passed up on several opportunities to deny he had made his last appearance for Arsenal during the post-match victory lap, insisting he was focused on celebrating the triumph with his team-mates.
And BT Sport pundit Ferdinand said his refusal to confirm his desire to stay at the Emirates Stadium suggested he was on his way out.
He said: “I think he’s (Aubameyang) gone from that reaction. He’s already decided.
Quoting Aubameyang, Ferdinand added: “‘I’m going to enjoy this with my team-mates’ – he sounds like someone who is going elsewhere.
“Arsenal need to do all they can to keep him. He was unbelievable.
“But the Arsenal fans adore him. Is he going to find that elsewhere in his career?”
However, head coach Mikel Arteta remained optimistic that Aubameyang would stay at Arsenal and promised to make the former Borussia Dortmund striker front and centre of his team.
“He (Aubameyang) knows what I think about him. I want to build a squad around him,” Arteta told BBC Sport. “I want him to stay, it is about getting the deal done.
“I think moments like that will help him to believe we are on the right path and he is a big part of it. He is loved by everyone at the club. I think he will (stay).”
Aubameyang had reportedly offered his services to Chelsea in the January transfer window and certainly showed the Blues what they were missing.
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