After the 3-2 win over Watford in the Premier League, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gave an update on French forward Alexandre Lacazette‘s contract situation. The manager revealed that the club will sit with the forward at the end of the season to discuss a new contract.
Alexandre Lacazette is currently out of contract at the end of the current season. The French forward is currently free to discuss and sign a pre-contract with any foreign club. Arsenal and Mikel Arteta currently look set to be targeting a striker in the summer transfer window. Club captain and star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Barcelona on a free transfer in the January transfer window after a fallout with manager Mikel Arteta.
As things stand, Lacazette is the only senior striker at the club. Young academy striker Eddie Nketiah is the first and last name on the backup list for the forward. But Eddie Nketiah is also out of contract in the summer. The England international has shown no interest in signing a new deal with the club.
Despite his contract ending at the end of the season, Lacazette was still handed the captain’s armband by Mikel Arteta. The French forward has not been in excellent form in front of the goal. He has grabbed just three goals in 20 Premier League games so far this term. On the other hand, he has registered seven assists in the league this term. (stats via Transfermarkt) The forward has been particularly involved in the buildup play and is a very essential element of Mikel Arteta’s team.
Mikel Arteta’s view on Alexandre Lacazette contract situation
In a recent interview, talking about Alexandre Lacazette’s new contract talks, Arteta said:
“It is the case. I said to you, at the end of the season where we know where we are, we’ll sit down with those three players [out-of-contract] and between all of us, we’ll decide what we do to move forward.”
Arteta also praised Lacazette’s recent performances despite the lack of goals, he said:
“I think he’s had really good moments in terms of goal-scoring records, probably better than what he’s doing right now. But for what we ask of him and for what I ask of him and the contribution that I need from him. I think he’s doing really, really well.”
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