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.

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.

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.

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.

The Arsenal board have backed Arteta in his previous in-house battles, including against Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi, and