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    Categories: 2018

Sports: Aubameyang arrival has Mkhitaryan dreaming big at Arsenal

Agence France Presse
February 9, 2018 Friday 12:42 PM GMT


Aubameyang arrival has Mkhitaryan dreaming big at Arsenal

London, Feb 9 2018

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is living a dream at Arsenal after being reunited
with close friend and "the best team-mate" he's shared a dressing room
with in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Mkhitaryan bagged three assists on his home debut -- including the
pass to tee up Aubameyang for his first Arsenal goal -- as the Gunners
thrashed Everton 5-1 last weekend to breath a fresh air of optimism
into an often frustrated Emirates crowd.

Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan formed a lethal partnership in three years
together at Borussia Dortmund before the Armenian left for an unhappy
18-month spell at Manchester United.

However, the arrival of another former Dortmund connection in
Arsenal's new head of recruitment Sven Mislintat helped bring the pair
together again as Alexis Sanchez's move to United saw Mkhitaryan head
in the other direction, whilst Arsenal splashed a club record £56
million ($78 million) on Aubameyang on the final day of the January
transfer window.

"I think it could only be in a dream that we could join another club
other than Dortmund but I am very happy for that," said Mkhitaryan.

"I have known him very well, he is one of my best friends and the best
team-mate I have ever had. I am very happy to have him here and I
think all the fans are happy to see him in an Arsenal shirt.

"What can I say? I love playing with him. I can understand him from
one step and hopefully for the next games we are going to achieve
more."

Arsene Wenger needs his newly-formed front line, including Mesut Ozil,
to continue to shine if Arsenal are to maintain hopes of a top-four
finish when they face local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North
London derby on Saturday (1230 GMT).

Sixth-placed Arsenal sit five points off the Champions League places,
but Mkhitaryan insists the club's ambitions must be to win trophies.

"First of all we have to win lots of games. Secondly, we have to think
that we have to win titles because at the end of your football career
only the titles mean something," he added.

"I think if you play football, it doesn't matter for which club, you
have to achieve the maximum and you have to win titles because if you
are playing just to play football it is better to stop playing it."

United manager Jose Mourinho's lack of trust in Mkhitaryan has been
blamed for the latter's failure to make a lasting impression at Old
Trafford, but he insisted he has nothing to prove in the Premier
League.

"I don't want to find excuses," he said.

"I don't want to blame anyone... I am starting a new chapter in my
life, in my football career and I am very happy to be here.

"I will be pleased to achieve more than I have done in Manchester, of
course. I don't have anything to prove to anyone."

Karapet Navasardian: