Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has called on the club to sort out a new contract for striker Alexandre Lacazette with the Frenchman in danger of leaving for free.
Lacazette cost Arsenal a huge £52million back in 2017 as Arsene Wenger pounced to sign his fellow Frenchman from Lyon.
Lacazette smashed at least 22 goals in each of his last four seasons at Lyon but has never hit that mark in an Arsenal shirt.
71 goals in 197 games for Arsenal is far from a disgrace for Lacazette, but this has been a frustrating campaign with just four goals in 21 Premier League games.
On the face of it, a four-goal striker turning 31 in May may just be allowed to leave for free without a huge debate.
In the case of Lacazette though, he offers so much to this Arsenal team in terms of his all-round game.
Lacazette links play so well at the top end of the pitch, allowing the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka to thrive.
You also have to factor in that Arsenal aren’t exactly blessed with striking options.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has gone and Eddie Nketiah is out of contract this summer, with Arsenal no doubt trying to ensure Folarin Balogun isn’t the only striker left.
There has been little movement on a new contract for Lacazette though, meaning he may just be a couple of months away from leaving Arsenal for nothing.
Boss Arteta doesn’t want that to happen and has now sent a very clear message to the powers above him at the Emirates Stadium.
Speaking to The Mirror, Arteta has stated that it is ‘clear’ to see Lacazette’s impact, praising his consistency.
Arteta added that the contract situation needs to be resolved, hoping to find an agreement that suits all in the very near future.
“I think with Alex it’s very clear what he brings to the team,” said Arteta. “He’s shown it consistently since I’ve been here, and what we have to resolve is the contractual timing, in the best possible way, and when we all align on the same page,” he added.
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