Here is your Arsenal morning digest for Tuesday, April 19.
Saka advice
Arsenal star Alexandre Lacazette has opened up on the advice he gave Hale End academy graduate last season. “I’m proud,” he told Canal Plus when asked about being the club's current captain. “It’s perhaps one of the seasons where I have the most responsibility within the team.
“I think I’m mature enough now for it. I maintain a good relationship between the squad and the staff. I try to bring the most confidence possible to my partners. Last year, I had said to Bukayo (Saka) to play how he wants, that if we lost, I would take responsibility and that he shouldn’t worry.
"Then, we played a great game and he scored. He said to me, ‘When you told me that, it really helped me’. So yeah, it’s nice.”
Smith Rowe critcism
Ian Wright has criticised Emile Smith Rowe for his poor finishing during Arsenal's 1-0 defeat against Southampton on Saturday. Speaking on Premier League Productions, Wright said: "Look at Arsenal here, Emile Smith Rowe, he really slashed at that, you want a bit of composure. You want a bit of calmness there.
“You look at the way he really smashes himself at this. All you want really is to get on that and get a clean contact on target. The goalkeeper is still stretching to try and save it. If he gets a good contact then he probably scores. The problem is striking. And taking chances. You saw those chances, they weren’t half-chances. They were good chances.”
Read more here.
Lacazette exit
Alexandre Lacazette has admitted he is open to leaving Arsenal in the summer transfer window. Lacazette has endured a difficult campaign with Mikel Arteta's side, scoring just four Premier League goals this season.
Speaking to Canal Plus, he said: “I am in discussions with a lot of clubs. I am open." The veteran frontman has been linked with a return to Ligue 1 outfit Lyon and he admitted that he is still in regular contact with the French side when quizzed on a potential return to the Groupama Stadium.
He added: “I have never cut contact with Lyon since I left. I try to return to the club once or twice a year to see the medical staff because we are really close. Lyon knows that I am free, they have come to the information . “
Read the full story here.
