Arsenal captains and controversy: they are bedfellows, right? Alexandre Lacazette is the latest to charm the Gunners faithful with exit comments.
Mikel Arteta’s side slipped to their third successive loss this weekend at mid-table Southampton, after dismal defeats to Brighton and Crystal Palace in recent weeks. Substitute captain Lacazette, who received the armband when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the honor in December, was absent due to illness.
But that hasn’t stopped the French striker from starting a new week by pissing off his own fans with an interview in which he practically confirmed that he will leave this summer.
“I am in talks with many clubs,” Lacazette told Canal Plus, who has been heavily linked with a return to Lyon, from whom Arsenal signed the striker in 2017.
“I have never cut contact with Lyon since I left,” the 29-year-old confirmed, adding: “I try to return to the club once or twice a year to see the medical staff because we are very close. Lyon know that I’m free, they have to come with a proposal.
“I want to play in Europe, I haven’t played in the Champions League for a long time, I’m missing out. It’s a little more complicated, nothing is impossible in life, but it’s a little more complicated.”
Arsenal fans have since taken to social media to criticize their striker over the interview, with many claiming the striker has not been playing at Champions League level this season.
Lacazette has four goals throughout the season, two of them from penalties.
One of the oldest players, captain of the club, goes out to give interviews about his next move. He shows where Lacazette is mentally and not at Arsenal. Is this the guy who has been given the keys to say goodbye to #UCL?April 18, 2022
Lacazette has less npg than an interim manager, but he pins for UCL football. OK so.April 18, 2022
Lacazette has given interviews in which he says how much he misses Champions League football and that he is open to leaving for a team that plays in the European Cup. I feel that this is not the right time to make such statements when we are at a vital stage of the season. What is your opinion? To converse. pic.twitter.com/GqiqiwzW1dApril 18, 2022
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Arsenal remain linked to new strikers, with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah both out of contract at the end of this season. Paulo Dybala is a player who has reportedly turned heads, while Cody Gakpo has also been linked with a move this summer.
Florian Grillitsch has been talked about in relation to a move, he has been linked to a Premier League right-back, while Lucas Paquetá and Rubén have been promoted for Emirates transfers. In terms of departures, there are reports linking key defender Gabriel with a move to Barcelona this summer.
Nacho Monreal, meanwhile, recently spoke about the departure of Mesut Ozil from the club with FFTs.
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