Arsenal are at risk of losing star players Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette if they fail to secure a return to the Champions League.
The Gunners are now in their third season outside of European football’s elite competition having fallen just short of a return to the top four last season.
Under-fire boss Unai Emery knows his job is at risk if they are unable to secure a top four place at the end of the campaign having fallen four points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea following a string of poor results.
And according to The Telegraph, the pressure is also on to avoid the risk of losing their star attacking duo as they look to test themselves at the highest level.
(Image: REUTERS)
Lacazette and Aubameyang have both been shining lights during a pair of disappointing seasons, combining for 87 goals in all competitions to form a prolific attack.
The club invested a club record £75million in Nicolas Pepe in the summer to join them in an attacking trio designed to fire them back to glory.
But Lacazette and Aubameyang have yet to commit their long-term futures with new contracts, with the Telegraph claiming the club fear they will struggle to keep them in the summer if they don’t qualify for the Champions League.
(Image: WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/REX)
Both players were club-record signings in the past, with Lacazette joining for £46.5million in July 2017 and Aubameyang’s £56million arrival from Borussia Dortmund breaking that benchmark.
Aubameyang’s scenario is a more pressing concern, with his contract up in June 2021, whereas Lacazette is tied down until the following summer.
The pair are both part of Arsenal’s leadership group created in the summer, with Aubameyang named vice-captain and in contention to take over the captaincy after Granit Xhaka’s response to being substituted at the weekend.
But the Xhaka debacle highlighted the high tensions in north London, which could cause the likes of Lacazette and Aubameyang to jump ship in the summer if a top four place isn’t achieved.
