Arsenal should be looking at Ings in case Aubameyang leaves, says Keown

Martin Keown says Arsenal should be looking at Danny Ings in case Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leaves the club this summer.

Aubameyang has hit 64 goals in 104 games for Arsenal since moving to Emirates Stadium from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018.

The Gabon international has solidified his reputation as one of Europe's top strikers in the process, but as it stands, he will become a free agent in 2021.

Arsenal have yet to tie the 31-year-old down to fresh terms, and he gave a non-committal update on his future following the team's 4-0 win over Norwich on July 1.

He told BT Sport: "We’re going to talk to the club and we’ll see what happens.

"First of all I'm really focused on the games and the end of the season so we'll see."

Ex-Gunners defender Keown is still hoping that Aubameyang extends his stay in north London, but if not, he believes Southampton talisman Ings would be the ideal replacement.

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Ings has found the net in 20 of his 36 Premier League outings in 2019-20, emerging as arguably the finest centre-forward outside of English football's top six clubs.

When asked to discuss the possibility of the 27-year-old ending up at the Emirates, Keown told Talksport: “Danny Ings has been outstanding. He presses really well, he’s hard-working, Southampton are lucky to have him.

“I think while Ralph Hasenhuttl is there they’ll keep him, because the two together are a little bit special. Ings is rewarding Southampton for the way they stood by him and gave him another chance and now he can’t stop scoring.

“He could slot in anywhere, there would be a lot of clubs that would be interested in this fella if he became available. He’s doing it now at the highest level.

“If Aubamyeng left would Arsenal be an option? When you’ve got 20 goals to your name then everybody is interested in you, especially if suddenly you need a striker.

“There’s no doubt the top clubs will be really interested in what he does and he’s still young enough to get better and develop.

“I would rather have Aubameyang, but if Aubameyang is gone you need goals, you’ve got to have players in your team that give you belief you will win games, and Ings is one of those.

“So yeah, I don’t think I’d be turning him away. I’d be definitely looking at him as a player Arsenal should be interested in.”