Jeremie Aliadiere believes Arsenal should offer Alexandre Lacazette a contract extension at the Emirates.
Since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's departure from the Gunners squad, the Frenchman has become Arsenal's foremost leader and is their most experienced forward.
As his contract expires in June, the club are yet to decide on whether they should try to extend the 30-year-old's deal beyond this current season.
But Aliadiere thinks it's an easy decision: "The club, it's a no-brainer, they should definitely offer him (Alexandre Lacazette) an extension and hopefully try to keep him at the club," Aliadiere told BonusCodeBets.
"For me a player like this, with his experience, I know him personally as well and I know how much he loves the club.
"For me, 100%."
Aliadiere continued by explaining that Lacazette is a great thinker and is an equally impressive teammate.
"He's got a great footballing brain. Them two setups that he did against Watford, that's world class," he added.
"You haven't got any other number nine that's got the football brain, to give them passes."
The Frenchman is struggling for goals this season and has found the net on just three occasions in the Premier League. However, Aliadiere doesn't think this is too much of a concern.
"There's a lot of fans that complain about his goalscoring record this season and what I say is that he offers so much more.
"You've got to stop just looking at him as a No.9, purely on goalscoring because what he does for the team and the club is insane, it's crazy.
"I just think he's one player that is different from a lot of other strikers. I think what he offers is passion, hundred percent commitment, desire. He might not score as many goals as we would expect or love him to score, this season in particular. But for me, he's a top player."
But not every former Gunner agrees with Aliadiere.
In fact, Arsenal legend Paul Merson thinks that Lacazette has had his chance in north London and Mikel Arteta's side need to move on from him.
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"If Alexandre Lacazette goes and gets 10 goals before the end of the season, they can't get lazy and just give him a new deal worth £250,000-a-week, thinking it might be his season next season," the Arsenal icon told Sky Sports in February.
"For me, Lacazette has had his time at Arsenal. Whatever he does between now and the end of the season, he's had his chance."
A decision isn't expected to be reached until the summer. In the meantime, the frontman will be focused on helping his team qualify for the Champions League.
