Arsenal Transfer Rumors 2018: Gunners Could Part Ways with Alexandre Lacazette in the Offseason
Arsenal may have spent over £50 million to bring Alexandre Lacazette to north London last summer, but it seems they may be prepared to ship him elsewhere once the transfer window reopens in the summer.
Lacazette has struggled to make an impact since he came over from Olympique Lyonnais, and in a recent interview, former Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Petit said the French striker is likely heading for the exit this offseason if he fails to improve in the next few months.
"Lacazette is under massive pressure. He needs to improve or face the exit this summer," Petit said, according to The Sun.
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"Aubameyang's signing tells me it might already be too late. Arsene Wenger's belief in Lacazette has gone. After six months his statistics are not exactly tremendous. Auba is exactly the man Arsenal need," he added.
Lacazette already had to fight for his place in the starting XI before the arrival of Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund a week ago, but now, he will have to accept a place on the substitute's bench.
A lot of observers had assumed that Gunners manager Arsène Wenger was going to at least consider playing Aubameyang and Lacazette together up front with Mesut Özil slot in behind them. However, the French striker was benched instead during their 5-1 victory over Everton last Saturday.
Still, Wenger has hinted that they will continue to use him in Europa League matches since Aubameyang is cup-tied for that competition.
"I am very happy with him. We could not afford to let Giroud, Walcott and Sanchez go and bring no one in," Wenger said of Lacazette after their match against Everton, according to Tribal Football.
"That is impossible. In the Europa League Aubameyang can not play, there are all kinds of possibilities to give everyone games," he continued.
Since joining Arsenal, Lacazette has only scored nine goals in 25 Premier League matches.
