Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has urged Mikel Arteta to extend Alexandre Lacazette's stay in north London as the Frenchman enters the final few months of his contract.
Lacazette, along with fellow striker Eddie Nketiah, is already free to talk to other clubs over a potential pre-contract agreement and would be free to leave for nothing at the end of the season if no new terms are agreed.
The club are believed to be keen to offer the former Lyon striker a one-year extension, but the player himself may only entertain a longer deal with his 31st birthday coming up in May.
Wright was impressed by the striker's link-up play in the weekend win at Watford and has now encouraged Arteta to push for an extension for his number nine.
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Lacazette picked up two assists against Watford, setting up Bukayo Saka for Arsenal's second and Gabriel Martinelli for the third.
"His position is vitally important to everything we're doing, just look at the two assists he had," Wright said on the Wrighty's House podcast. "Unless we get that person, you think to yourself, 'maybe we could give Laca another year or two'.
"I think Laca has got to stay around, man. You can see with his little back flick, his back heel assist, his little assist. Man is feeling the vibe."
Arteta is believed to be targeting up to six summer signings, after missing out on Dusan Vlahovic in January, with a longer-term replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang among the potential signings.
The Gunners' former captain left for nothing, joining Barcelona at the start of February after losing the armband and falling out with Arteta in the months before his departure, and the Gabon international has already scored five times for his new club.
Arsenal have been linked with a number of potential recruits, including Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak, and qualification for the Champions League could be enough to convince potential recruits to move to north London.
However, despite Lacazette's contract situation, Arteta has repeatedly stressed he believes the 30-year-old wants to stick around beyond this season.
"We don't know what's going to happen at the end of the season," Arteta said in February.
"We don't have contracts that run for 20 years, it's part of our job. He behaves like someone who wants to stay with us
"It was an important win for us. The way we won it creates such a belief and togetherness and an atmosphere and cohesion with our fans as well and that’s extremely necessary. This is a really young squad and we need that.
