Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette reaches ‘final decision’ amid Atletico Madrid interest
Arteta gives update on Nketiah's contract negotiations with Arsenal
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Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette has finally made a decision on his future amid speculation over a possible departure, according to reports. The Frenchman’s contract expires next year and there has not yet been any indication that a renewal will be agreed.
Lacazette has endured a couple of frustrating seasons. He scored just 13 Premier League goals last term and has managed just one since the start of the current campaign.
However, that solitary strike was the dramatic equaliser against Crystal Palace, which earned the 30-year-old a rare start in last Friday’s win over Aston Villa.
The forward has begun just 23 top-flight fixtures since the beginning of last season and speculation has mounted over his future.
And it now appears that Lacazette has made a decision over where he will play his football next term.
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According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, the France international will sensationally snub any new contract offer from the Gunners and will leave after five years at the club.
The report continues that Atletico Madrid would be the likeliest destination for Lacazette. Diego Simeone, head coach of the LaLiga club, is believed to have ‘always liked’ the player.
A potential departure would put to an end a tough couple of years at the Emirates Stadium for Lacazette. He would be allowed a fresh start in Spain, where he has previously never played.
Arsenal signed Lacazette from Lyon in a deal worth around £47million in the summer of 2017. However, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was signed the following January, often leaving one to be played either out of position or not at all.
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Despite only featuring sporadically more recently, Lacazette has still managed an impressive 68 goals in 177 appearances for the North Londoners.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has said that he couldn’t have asked any more from his player amid the uncertainty over his future.
“It’s the situation that we have and we have to accept it,” Arteta told Sky Sports earlier this month.
“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.
“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 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.
“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.”
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