Arsenal centre-half Rob Holding has revealed Alexandre Lacazette has urged him to stay at Emirates Stadium. The striker left the Gunners when his contract expired to return to Lyon.
Lacazette joined Arsenal from Lyon under Arsene Wenger in July 2017 for what was a club-record £46.5m at the time. But he struggled to show a consistent ability to lead the team’s attack over the next five years. Lyon would then re-sign the striker as a free agent in 2022.
The 31-year-old bagged just 71 goals and 36 assists in his 206 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions. Lacazette’s haul included 54 goals and 30 assists in 158 top-flight outings. He has since hit 10 and created four in 17 matches since returning to Lyon as their captain.
Holding had already been at Arsenal for a year when Lacazette arrived after leaving Bolton Wanderers for £2m in 2016. The pair would go on to record 80 appearances together with the defender never a consistent starter. Holding has played 150 fixtures with the Gunners.
Yet of the 27-year-old’s 12 appearances so far this season under Mikel Arteta, Holding has only started seven. He is also yet to open a Premier League match so far this season after five appearances. Six of the former England U21 star’s starts came in the Europa League.
Arteta has further only awarded Holding a combined 13 minutes over his top-flight outings this term. The Spaniard has used the centre-back to help see out the closing stages of wins against Fulham, Aston Villa, Leeds United, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion this season.
Holding reveals Lacazette’s advice to stay at Arsenal since his return to Lyon
Holding also now faces an uncertain future at Arsenal beyond the current campaign as his contract expires in June 2024. The Gunners also hold an option to extend his £40k-a-week terms by 12 months. But he could seek a transfer away to secure more regular game time.
Yet Holding has now revealed that Lacazette has texted him since re-joining Lyon to urge him to stay at Arsenal. The French forward still has a strong affection for what the Gunners offer. Under Arteta, the north London side are also competing for the Premier League title.
“A couple of months ago he texted me to tell me to enjoy my time at Arsenal because it’s a step above everywhere else,” Holding said, via quotes by Sky Sports.
“He said to me to stay at the club if you can because the grass isn’t always greener elsewhere and to enjoy being at a club like Arsenal. It was really nice to hear that from someone at a different club.”
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