Alan McInally has been speaking on The Group Chat about how Arsenal should not stand in the way of Alexandre Lacazette if he wishes to leave the club.
Only a couple of weeks ago, it appeared that the fourth spot and a route into the Champions League was Arsenal’s to lose, however, they lost three consecutive games while also only scoring twice in their last five league outings prior to their victory at Chelsea in midweek.
Should Arsenal keep Lacazette?
Yes!
No!
Now Arsenal will likely have to ensure they beat north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to see them claim fourth spot and leapfrog Spurs, but that be a lot more difficult to do given their inability to score a load of goals, with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe their joint-top scorers with 10 league strikes each.
Captain Lacazette has recently told Canal Plus that he wishes to play in the Champions League as his future at the Emirates Stadium remains unclear, and McInally doesn’t want to see Arsenal stand in the way of Lacazette if he doesn’t want to sign a new contract this summer.
He said: “When they were on that little run, and I was saying just back Arteta, he’s put you in a position where you’re now challenging for [top] four, and they don’t really have an out-and-out goalscorer.
They’re having goals from Martinelli, they’re having goals from midfield, Odegaard, certainly Saka on the right-hand side, but there’s been something missing.
“Incidentally, I thought Lacazette had done a good job by picking the baton up a little bit, but he’s not going to get you 20 goals a season, he’s genuinely not, and if he wants to leave, go.”
TIF Thoughts on Lacazette’s future…
The Frenchman has never been extremely prolific since he was brought in from Lyon for £46.5m, with just 54 league goals in 154 appearances for the Gunners. This season has been yet another poor one, with just four strikes in the Premier League, making it even more impressive that Mikel Arteta has his side fighting for the top four.
Lacazette has recently confirmed that he’s already in conversation with several other clubs over his signature come the summer when he becomes a free agent, and after claiming he wishes to play in the Champions League, you do sense that Arsenal’s season could have a bearing on the Gunners’ ability to retain the striker’s services.
In other news: ‘It’s so poor’ – Journalist can’t believe what Arsenal have allowed ‘to happen’