Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has revealed he signed for Arsenal in the belief Arsene Wenger would stay on as manager “for years”.

Wenger bowed out yesterday after 22 years in charge with a 1-0 win at Huddersfield on a highly emotional afternoon at the John Smith’s Stadium.

The Gunners will now step up their search for the Frenchman’s successor, with Massimiliano Allegri, Mikel Arteta and Julian Nagelsmann among the names under serious consideration.

Whoever takes over will inherit one of the Premier League’s in-form goalscorers as Aubameyang netted the only goal at Huddersfield to take his tally to 10 in 14 appearances since joining the Gunners from Borussia Dortmund in January for a club-record £56million.

And the 28-year-old admitted he made the switch to play under Wenger, expressing his surprise at his decision to depart.

“I thought he would be at Arsenal for years,” Aubameyang told Standard Sport. “But this is life. This is football. Sometimes you never know. But I was happy to play for him. I learned a lot in not a lot of time to work with him. I am happy to be here.

“Yesterday was important for us because it was the last game for the boss. It was important to win this game for him. It was special.”

Although the identity of Arsenal’s new manager remains unclear, Aubameyang believes there are positive signs for next season.

The Gunners had to wait until the final day of the campaign to pick up their first away point of 2018 and a sixth-place finish is the lowest in Wenger’s time at the club.

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However, Aubameyang’s personal return was a highlight, all the more impressive given he was left out of the Dortmund team prior to his move and was ineligible for Arsenal’s Europa League matches.

“At the beginning, it was really hard because physically I was not ready,” he said. “I did not play in January, all month, so it was not easy.

“But after big work with the staff, I found my form again. I scored some goals and thanks to my team-mates, of course, because we work for that.

“These last few weeks we played well and we have a lot of young players. It is good for the future and I am sure next season will be a good season.”

Wenger refused to discuss what the players did to mark his final game but Aubameyang revealed they clapped the 68-year-old in the dressing room and signed parting messages as a gift. “We made some applause [for Arsene],” he said. “We talked a lot already and we also wrote in a book for him.”

It was just one of a variety of tributes paid to Wenger as Huddersfield sought to mark the occasion, free to do so having secured their top-flight status with a game to spare.

Their survival only enhanced the celebratory feel on a day which saw Wenger given a guard of honour on the pitch and sustained applause in the 22nd-minute, marking the length of his tenure in north London.

“I feel that I got a lot of respect not only from our fans but from England,” said Wenger, who was also presented with a framed half-and-half shirt from Huddersfield boss David Wagner.

“I would reiterate I loved English football but I also learned to loved England. You do not stay 22 years if you don’t like it.

“That’s a good return from people who love football here. it’s a special country, especially even for football and that’s why I stayed a long time.”

Wenger returned to France on business but is due to head back to London Colney later this week to clear his personal effects from the club’s training ground. The 68-year-old has received multiple offers to manage next season but Wenger is expected to take some time before deciding on his next move. It is anticipated he will continue in management although he has not ruled out the possibility of taking a general manager or sporting director position.

“At the moment, I have not said anything to anybody,” he said.

“I came out of a long process and you cannot just the next morning go somewhere else. It’s impossible.

“I don’t know [if I will work in England]. Maybe it’s better I go somewhere else.”