Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette mind games beginning right on time

Arsenal will be looking for striker help this summer, so we think, and as such, the Alexandre Lacazette mind games are beginning right on time.

Arsenal has a collection of strikers already, but nobody seems reliable enough to handle the first team responsibilities, especially not with Alexis Sanchez rocking out the attacking midfield position. Olivier Giroud is a healthy alternative, but is past the point of being a reliable first-teamer. Especially not when he is so effective in his smaller capacity. Cue the transfer window.

It wouldn’t be a transfer season without Lyon President Jean-Michael Aulas speaking in riddles about the future of his highly-sought-after superstars. The Ligue 1 side has kept hold of the likes of Corentin Tolisso, Nabil Fekir and Alexandre Lacazette longer than expected, but it’s still assumed that the trio, among others, will seek higher levels of competition soon.

Lacazette has even spoken plainly about how this summer is the time for him to go. To boldly go where he has never gone before. To push new horizons and discover his true potential. You know, all that stuff.

But as it usually goes, just as you think it is set in stone that a move will happen, Aulas comes out with his cheeky statements. His words, as quoted by the Metro:

"There are a number of theories about players wanting to leave (Lyon) or not. Lacazette? Alexandre needs to want to leave, which isn’t a total certainty at this point"

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Sounds like Aulas is trying to be that card player that hides aces up his sleeve even when he knows his opponent has the better hand. Take, for instance, what Alexandre Lacazette himself said less than a month ago (also via the Metro):

"Will this be my last few months at Lyon? It depends which teams will be on offer to me. I am prepared to leave, but only to make a significant leap forward. Otherwise, nothing will happen."

While Lacazette did leave some wiggle room, the highlight in his statement was the middle part, the “I am prepared to leave,” part. It doesn’t get much more conclusive than that, and there will be significant leaps forward available to him this summer.

Plus, Lacazette’s past with Lyon isn’t exactly peachy. He has been seeking an exit for a couple years now, had several fall outs with the club and continues to improve. It goes without saying that he would seek an improvement. Aulas says that Alexandre has to want to leave. Okay, done. He wants to leave.

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Lacazette has stated that he will only go to a Champions League club, so that is definitely something to monitor. Still, should Arsenal sneak into that fourth or even third place slot, expect there to be a lot of coverage regarding Lacazette and a potential (and overdue) move to the Emirates.

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