Alexandre Lacazette: Arsenal striker remains motivated amid contract uncertainty, insists Mikel Arteta | Football News
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Mikel Arteta has lauded Alexandre Lacazette’s recent impact at Arsenal but refused to confirm whether the forward will be offered a new contract amid uncertainty over his future at the Emirates Stadium.
The 30-year-old’s current deal with the Gunners expires in June next year and he is free to speak to overseas clubs in January to negotiate a move on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Lacazette came off the bench to score a dramatic injury-time equaliser against Crystal Palace on Monday, his first Premier League goal of the season, to salvage a 2-2 draw for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Ahead of Arsenal’s game with Aston Villa on Friday night, live on Sky Sports, Lacazette’s manager was eager to praise the Frenchman for his commitment to the club and his « contagious » influence on the team, but stopped short of clarifying whether he will be offered an extension to his current deal.
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Arteta said of Lacazette’s contract: « It’s the situation that we have and we have to accept it.
« I cannot ask anything from the player… and it’s not an individual situation because it has a knock-on effect.
« All of this we have had to deal with in the past and still now, we have to see what the best option is for everybody at the end of the season.
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« I had no doubts about that [his motivation] and if I did I would probably have decided to do something different in the summer if the motivation was just his financial future.
« It’s not the case with Laca and he has shown that since I’ve been here every single day and that he remains a really important player for us.
« I think he was able to transmit that energy [against Crystal Palace] and that was contagious for the rest of the team and for the stadium.
Lacazette has scored 68 goals in 175 games for Arsenal since joining from Lyon four years ago
« He created a different atmosphere straight away, with his determination and his quality and he tried to change the result straight away and [had] that belief in himself that he could do it. »
Lacazette, who is into his fifth season at Arsenal following his arrival from Lyon in 2017, is yet to start a Premier League game this season, making just three substitute appearances so far, with captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang often preferred as a lone striker.
When asked whether it is impossible that Lacazette will be offered a new contract, Arteta answered: « No. Anything is possible.
« He is our player, and I treat him like any other player, I’m not going to treat him differently because he has a year left or not a year left and that is what he deserves. »
Bukayo Saka will be assessed ahead of the visit of Aston Villa
Bukayo Saka is a doubt for the clash with Dean Smith’s Villa after being forced off with an injury after a challenge from James McArthur against Palace.
Arteta explained: « He hasn’t trained yet so we have to assess him today and see how he is.
« It’s down to him and the doctors to see how he is feeling between today and tomorrow. »
Arteta has heaped praise on Villa boss Dean Smith ahead of their meeting at the Emirates Stadium
‘Villa showing lots of ambition’
Arsenal head into their clash with Villa unbeaten in six games in all competitions and on the back of two draws following their enthralling north London derby triumph over Tottenham.
Recent results constitute an upturn in form for the Gunners after three defeats to Brentford, Chelsea, and Manchester City at the start of the season.
Smith’s team meanwhile will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing 3-2 defeat to Wolves as Bruno Lage’s side came back from 2-0 down to overcome their local rivals at Villa Park.
Arsenal have lost their last three against Villa in the Premier League, including last season’s encounter at the Emirates when a Saka own goal and an Ollie Watkins double secured all three points for the away side.
Arteta said of Friday’s opponents: « It is a test and they have shown how difficult they have been against us because we haven’t got the results that we’ve wanted recently against them.
« We know they have improved their squad, the way they are playing in the last few seasons they are showing a lot of ambition with the way they are recruiting as well and it will be a difficult game for sure.
« I really like him [Dean Smith] everything that I’ve heard from him is really, really positive.
« He’s building a team and a club with different ambitions. Credit to him and the owners that they are giving him the time and he’s done a really good job. »
