The future of Alexandre Lacazette continues to be a dominant point of discussion for many Arsenal supporters with the striker’s deal coming to an end at the close of the current Premier League season.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang already gone and Eddie Nketiah also soon to follow after his contract ends this June, Arsenal will have just Folarin Balogun as the senior orthodox option in the summer barring the extension of Lacazette or the acquisition of a forward or two in the summer.
The latter seems inevitable but with eight-goal contributions in his last nine games, Lacazette is firmly putting himself in the frame for that new contract and it has become clear that Mikel Arteta is not ruling it out.
Speaking to Kaya Kaynak on The Arsenal Way Pressbox Show, he too noticed these signals from the Spanish coach and made it plain why the possibility of a Lacazette stay remains.
“It’s interesting that whenever he’s asked Arteta that he doesn’t seem to be closing the door on an extension for Lacazette. I know that he can’t really come out and say ‘Laca’s gonna leave in the summer. We don’t want him beyond the end of the season.’
“Because God knows what that would do to Lacazette’s motivation even though he’s been very professional this season. But at the same time, if he keeps playing like this and he keeps bringing the best out of the players around him then you do wonder if there is scope for an extension.
However, Kaya raised the important point of the length of contract offered to Lacazette being a sticking point to convince the Frenchman to stay with Arsenal.
“I don’t see him going for a one-year extension personally. I don’t see why he would when he can get more security at his age. He’ll be 31 at the end of the season, he can get more security elsewhere.
“So I think that would maybe make more sense for him to look for a move but, if Arsenal can keep a hold of him for one year, maybe two at a push, I think that would be some smart business. Just because of what he offers to the team and how well he makes those around him play.”
The battle that Arsenal could have, therefore, is with potential suitors willing to offer Lacazette more than just a single year. Providing the forward with stability into the twilight years of his career.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has already thrown his hat into the ring and spoken directly on the matter admitting how keen he is to land OL’s former youth product.
“It’s Lacazette, he interests us because he marked this club,” said Aulas. “It’s a profile that interests us and we have always been in contact with him.
“It’s a profile that interests us and we have always been in contact with him.
“This is part of the guiding ideas brought by (new sporting director) Bruno Cheyrou. In our context, yes it (Lacazette) is more accessible than Benzema.
“We have to try to see if we can do it as a free player, but we will not be alone.”
There are plenty more matches to be played between now and the end of the season and Lacazette will be critical to Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League. Arteta wants to sit down with him at the end of the season, but he could end up leaving it too late with so much surrounding interest in the long-serving forward.
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