Sport: Arteta jets to America for talks with Kroenke about Aubameyang future

Mikel Arteta flew to Denver on Monday to hold a transfer summit with Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke ahead of the January window’s final week.

Discussions between the two revolved around what to do with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — the 32-year-old striker who was stripped of the captaincy and has not appeared for the club since early December — and who they could sign as a replacement.

The meeting came days after Sportsmail revealed Arsenal were preparing a new two-year contract for Arteta, who they feel has taken the team forward since taking over in 2019. That extension is expected to be announced later in the season, with this rendezvous about future plans showing the healthy relationship between the pair.

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Arteta was spotted with Kroenke attending a National Hockey League game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Chicago Blackhawks. Avalanche, owned by Kroenke, won 2-0.

Arsenal have failed to score in their last four games — against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, Liverpool in both legs of their Carabao Cup semi-final and bottom-of-the-table Burnley in the Premier League.

Thomas Tuchel explains what Mikel Arteta's Dusan Vlahovic plan needs to look like for Arsenal

Thomas Tuchel has slammed into his own striker Romelu Lukaku and in turn given Mikel Arteta plenty to think about regarding his chase of transfer target Dusan Vlahovic. The main striker on the agenda is Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic. The Serbian is being pursued by Arsenal and football.london understands that Edu is doing ‘everything possible’ to complete a move for the forward this winter.

Despite their struggles in front of goal, it looks like there is no way back for Aubameyang, the £350,000-per-week forward who was stripped of the armband by Arteta for lack of ‘commitment’. That followed several disciplinary breaches, including returning late from a trip abroad.

© Provided by Daily Mail The pair discussed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's future amid their struggle to offload him

It is believed Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia remain the only club to have made a concrete offer for Aubameyang, proposing a loan with an obligation to buy. They are willing to cover his wages in full. Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked.

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The Arsenal board have backed Arteta in his previous in-house battles, including against Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi, and are siding with the manager now as they search for a new striker.

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This weekend's North London Derby was postponed due to a high number of injuries and COVID in the Gunners campSunday's game between Arsenal and Tottenham was supposed to be a top-four six-pointer, however, the decision was taken to controversially call the game off at the Gunners' request due to absences in their squad as a result of AFCON, injuries and COVID-19, despite the fact that it is understood Martin Odegaard was the only player to have recorded a suspected positive test.

Arsenal were interested in Fiorentina forward Dusan Vlahovic but Juventus have now come in for the £60million-rated Serbian. The Gunners are also said to be struggling in their bid to convince Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak.

© Provided by Daily Mail Arsenal are also set to miss out on Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic

© Provided by Daily Mail They are also set to miss out on preferred replacements Dusan Vlahovic and Alexander Isak

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been linked but Everton will not sell their main striker, especially given their struggles in the England international’s absence which has seen them drift towards the Premier League relegation zone.

Arteta is set to travel from Denver on to Dubai, where Arsenal will hold a warm-weather training camp ahead of the Premier League’s return.

Their next game is at Wolves a fortnight on Thursday, when they will look to secure their first win of 2022 and reignite their push for a top-four finish.