Arsenal have sent an indirect response to Lyon’s interest in Alexandre Lacazette through the use of the Gunners’ social media videos.
According to French outlet L’equipe, the Ligue 1 side tried to sign Lacazette in the January transfer window but failed in their attempts, so will come back in for him when he is a free agent in the summer, which the club’s president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed.
Arsenal have struggled to negotiate with Aulas in the past after failing to agree on a deal for Houssem Aouar, who is valued at £28.8 million by Transfermarkt. This is in addition to the extended amount of time it took for Lacazette to make his £52 million switch to north London back in 2017.
The Frenchman’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, meaning a decision needs to be made by the Arsenal hierarchy whether they offer the 30-year-old a new contract or not.
However, it would appear that the Gunners' admiration for the player has not changed following recent videos posted by the club's media team.
A video was posted during Arsenal's winter training camp in Dubai, where Lacazette was in charge of the camera whilst approaching members of the squad. It highlighted the strong personal relationship he has with the players and reiterated his importance to the team alongside his leadership qualities.
One heart-warming moment, in particular, was when he approached Emile Smith Rowe and said “That’s my number 10, the future for Arsenal.” This left a smile on Smith Rowe's face, showing the positive impact Lacazette has on the team's morale.
It is also clear that Arteta wants Lacazette to stay, as according to L’Equipe, the Gunners are willing to offer him a contract extension of up to two years, but it is unsure whether the two parties will come to an agreement.
It is not just his leadership qualities that make it imperative for him to sign a new deal but it is also due to how short Arsenal are in the striker position.
Both Eddie Nketiah and Lacazette’s contracts are set to expire at the end of the season, which will leave Arsenal with just one recognised striker in Folarin Balogun due to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s move to Barcelona.
While it seems Nketiah is likely to leave the club in the summer, there is still a question mark hanging over the future of Lacazette.
However, it may be hard to persuade Lacazette to sign a new contract, especially after the recent comments made by Lyon president Aulas.
He said via Metro: “We’ll do our best to sign Alexandre Lacazette in June. We’ve always remained in contact with him.”
The Gunners’ appreciation for the Frenchman certainly seemed like a response to Aulas and the Lyon interest, which could suggest that Lacazette will still be an Arsenal player ahead of next season.
The incentive to finally get revenge on Aulas after his complicated and unnecessary transfer tactics can be viewed as an extra reason to secure Lacazette's Arsenal future for just a little while longer.
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