Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal have taken a risk by not deciding Alexandre Lacazette’s future until the summer.
Lacazette’s contract expires at the end of the season and he has openly revealed that he is in talks with other clubs.
Arteta acknowledges that the striker is free to do that, but has urged him to stay focused on Arsenal’s push for a top-four finish.
“Well his contract situation allows him to make the decision about his future,” said Arteta. “We have expressed clearly what our intention is, to speak in the summer once we know where we are, about what we are going to do in the future together.
“It is the agreement that we made with him, that was our position and our position remains the same. That is what we are going to do.
“The risk of that happening, it was always there since the moment we made that decision, then it is up to him. It is not up to us or him it is up to both parties.
“It is not about me, it is about we as a club, the decision that we made with individuals, the collective, with the future and how we plan things.
“We made that decision to understand better and have a clearer picture of what we want to do in the summer. That’s what we decided.
“And for the rest, I just want him fully focused on his duty, which is now defend Arsenal in the best possible way, like he has done all the time he has been with us.
“That’s why he has been wearing the armband of this football club, that’s a big reason.”
