Mikel Arteta addressed the issue surrounding Alexandre Lacazette’s contract. He has confirmed his prior position that discussions on a new agreement will take place in the summer
Mikel Arteta led Arsenal has been in spectacular form since the end of January. They have won each of their last four Premier League games. It was against relegation-threatened Watford that they picked up their last three points. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard starred in a 2-1 victory at Vicarage Road.
When questioned about Alexandre Lacazette and his contract status at the club during his post-match press conference, Mikel Arteta responded straightforwardly. The Frenchman’s contract with the club expires at the end of this season. Arsenal has postponed negotiations until the summer.
Lacazette provided two assists against Watford. This ensured that he remains the club’s leading assist provider this season. Because Eddie Nketiah may also leave Arsenal, the team will be sparse in the attacking areas next season. It has made the retention of Lacazette all the more critical for the north London giants in the coming months.
Arteta has not confirmed that Lacazette would leave the club. But he has also not provided a strong indication that the striker will remain with the club. Instead, he maintained prior promises that negotiations over a prospective new deal will take place over the summer months. Whether Arsenal will give the striker a lucrative contract is still up in the air. But he is certain to get other lucrative offers from other teams.
What did the Arsenal Boss say?
Arteta was mentioned by the Metro as saying something regarding the striker’s condition. “There is a case. Towards the conclusion of the season, after we have a better sense of where we are, we’ll get down with those three players and decide together what we should do,” Mikel Arteta said.
As previously stated by Arteta last week, “We have no idea what will happen after this season. What he has to do is push that future out of his mind. Because we do not have contracts that last for 20 years, it is a natural aspect of our game. That is a necessary element of our profession. We must be mindful of it at all times. There’s nothing more to say to him except to express our gratitude for the way he conducts himself daily as if he wants to be with us.”
Even if Arsenal and Lacazette reach an agreement on a new contract extension, Arteta is anticipated to remain on the lookout for a top striker to replace the French international. If the club is successful in acquiring its chosen targets, Lacazette will be relegated to a less prominent position. Similar to what happened when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was at the club.
