Arsenal are weighing up the prospect of offering striker Alexandre Lacazette a new one-year deal at the end of the season…
What’s the Story?
That’s according to a claim made by French publication L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), who state that the Gunners could yet offer the France international a short-term contract extension – believed to be one year plus the option of a further.
However, the report also goes on to claim that Lyon are keeping an extremely close eye on the situation of the Arsenal centre-forward – whose current contract at The Emirates is due to expire at the end of the campaign – ahead of a potential move for the 30-year-old this summer.
Arteta should keep Lacazette
While it is undeniable that Lacazette has failed to deliver on the scoring front for the Gunners this season with just four goals from 23 appearances in the Barclays Premier League, he still holds the capabilities to “make the players around him better”. That is the view of former Arsenal striker and pundit Kevin Campbell.
Indeed, that opinion has proven true so far this season with the trio of Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka all excelling playing alongside him in the Arsenal attack.
Each of those players have benefitted from the £18m-rated Frenchman’s seven assists so far this campaign, and not only that but his all-round general play and defensive sacrifices made for the benefit of the whole team has propelled Arsenal’s football this season.
So far this campaign, as well as his seven assists, he’s contributed the third most key passes (23) amongst the Arsenal squad, according to FBRef. Also, the 30-year-old ranks first for goal-creating actions (0.53) out of players who have appeared in more than 10 games for Arteta’s men highlighting just how vital he is to Arsenal’s build-up play and creation of chances.
His defensive contributions have also aided Arsenal’s game when defending from the front, he’s completed the third most successful pressures (95) of any Arsenal player, and also registered the most pressures in the attacking third (165) again proving that he’s a vital cog in the Gunners machine when it comes to leading from the front
Such contributions are why he’s been lauded as “phenomenal” by his manager Mikel Arteta and deemed “vitally important” to the club by Arsenal legend and pundit Ian Wright after the 3-2 win over Watford in March.
The £182k-per-week forward is a leader to the young batch of stars behind him, being an example in the dressing room as well as on the pitch, and its that kind of character, experience and leadership the Gunners will need if they are to fire on all cylinders next season.
Whilst it may be valuable for the former Lyon striker to be kept on at the Emirates, it doesn’t mean the Gunners should hold off on building for the future and signing a long-term replacement, however.
AND in other news, Arsenal renew their interest in £49.50m-rated midfield orchestrator
