Alexandre Lacazette will leave Arsenal when his contract expires at the end of June, the north London club has confirmed.
The 31-year-old joined the Lyon Gunners in the summer of 2017 and scored 71 goals in 206 games in north London.
However, goals have dried up a bit for Lacazette this season – he scored six in 36 games – and now he and Arsenal have decided to part ways.
A statement from coach Mikel Arteta posted on the club’s official website read: “Laca has been a fantastic player for us. He has been a true leader on and off the pitch and has been a very important influence for our players. younger.
“His commitment to us has been outstanding and we wish him and his family success and happiness.”
Coach Edu added: “A big thank you to Laca from everyone at Arsenal. He has been very important to us. He will always be part of the Arsenal family and we wish him the best in the future.”
The French international made a name for himself in Lyon, where he found the net 129 times, after passing through the academy of the French giants and has been linked with a return to Groupama Stadium this summer.
What positions is Arsenal heading for?
Dharmesh Sheth, Sky Sports News reporter:
Arsenal are ready to have another busy summer. Losing Champions League football can affect spending plans, but there are areas that Edu and Mikel Arteta will want to strengthen.
The departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the last transfer window means that Arsenal are definitely in the market for a striker. The Gunners’ attacking strength is bolstered as Eddie Nketiah is set to sign a new contract this summer.
With the departure of Alexandre Lacazette, wait for one or two new players to arrive. Folarin Balogun has been loaned out to Middlesbrough.
Arsenal are likely to try to raise money for goalkeeper Bernd Leno. His contract expires next summer and the club has signed American international Matt Turner.
Arsenal were the ones who spent the most in the Premier League last summer and Arteta will be backed up again. Adding quality and depth is crucial as they will be competing in four competitions next season.
Where should your team be strengthened?
Arsenal center forward
The Gunners’ most urgent need for next season is the attack. When your leading shooter has the same number of goals as Norwich, which is below, you know there’s a problem.
The problem is not creating opportunities, the problem is taking them. Arsenal finished fourth in shots, shots on goal and expected goals (xG) this season, but finished 11th in the conversion of shots.
This disparity places Arteta’s side 15th on the xG differential, which measures the difference between goals and xG. A low xG differential suggests you’re missing out on high-quality opportunities – only Brighton, Leeds and the three relegated teams had a lower xG differential than Arsenal.
The main culprit in this regard was Alexandre Lacazette, who scored only two goals without a penalty in 46 shots and an xG return of 6.84. Only Bryan Mbuemo of Brentford performed lower than his xG by a larger margin this season.