Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang can continue to lead Arsenal to silverware – but the club should not be held to ransom over his new contract, according to former Gunners defender Martin Keown.

The PA news agency understands an agreement has been reached for Aubameyang to extend his Arsenal stay, with the deal possibly announced in the coming days.

The 31-year-old has less than a year to run on his current contract and would be able to leave the Emirates Stadium for free next summer if no fresh contract is signed.

The planned redundancies appear set to go ahead despite most of the first-team players and also head coach Arteta having already accepted 12.5 per cent pay cuts earlier this year in a move to protect their colleagues – a figure that was then reduced when they qualified for the Europa League next season.

“AISA is very concerned at Arsenal FC’s decision to make 55 posts redundant at the club,” a statement from the group’s committee read.

“We have been and remain supportive of the club in this very difficult time and note the efforts that have been taken – not least by the playing staff and senior management team – to make significant cost savings, but we would have hoped that redundancies could have been avoided.

“The Arsenal family needs to pull together in these unprecedented times and find creative solutions to difficult problems. This is what we expect from a club that is ‘always ahead of the game’.”

:: Former England and Arsenal defender Martin Keown paid a surprise visit to Newhaven McDonald’s to celebrate their 2020 McDonald’s & FA Grassroots Football Award win. To find out more about the awards visit www.mcdonalds.co.uk/awards.