Mikel Arteta touched upon Alexandre Lacazette’s contract situation, reiterating his previous stance on holding talks in the summer over a new deal.
Since the end of January, Arsenal have been in scintillating form, winning each of their four Premier League games. Their latest three points came against relegation-threatened Watford, as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard starred in a narrow win at Vicarage Road.
During his post-match press conference, Mikel Arteta was asked particularly about Alexandre Lacazette and his contract situation at the club. The Frenchman’s deal expires after this season, and Arsenal have delayed talks until the summer.
Lacazette notched up two assists against Watford and remains the top provider this season at the club. Arsenal are set to be thin in the forward areas next season as Eddie Nketiah is also likely to depart. It has made holding on to Lacazette that much more important for the north London giants.
Arteta has not conceded Lacazette will leave the club but has not given a clear indicator that the striker will continue either. Instead, he again reiterated previous claims about talks over a potential new contract taking place in the summer. It remains to be seen what sort of deal Arsenal would offer the striker, although he may have plenty of solid offers from clubs elsewhere.
The Metro quoted Arteta speaking about the striker’s situation. He said, “There is a case. At the end of the season, when we know where we are, we’ll sit down with those three players and, between all of us, make a decision.”
Arteta had also spoken on the subject last week, where he said, “We don’t know what is going to happen at the end of the season. What he needs to do is put aside that future. It is part of our game; we don’t have contracts that run for 20 years. That’s part of our job, and we have to be conscious of that. There’s nothing to tell him but to praise him, because every single day he behaves like someone that wants to stay with us.”
Even if Arsenal and Lacazette shake hands on extending his stay at the Emirates, Arteta is still expected to be in the market for a top striker. If the club finds their preferred targets, then Lacazette will be reduced to a less prominent role, much like when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was at the club.
