Arsenal: 5-year Alexandre Lacazette contract shows lessons are being learned

Arsenal are set to sign Alexandre Lacazette on a five-year deal. The fact that it is a five-year contract shows that Arsene Wenger is learning from his mistakes.

The first major signing of Arsenal’s summer is nearing completion. While they added Sead Kolasinac to open the transfer window on a free transfer, he is not the high profile name that fans have been baying for.

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That label rests on Alexandre Lacazette, who is most likely set to be Arsene Wenger’s second signing of the summer window. The Lyon striker was subject to a bid from the Gunners a year ago, which was duly rejected, and after failing to find a dynamic, more mobile replacement for Olivier Giroud, Wenger is now returning to prize the Frenchman away.

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Lacazette vindicated his reputation last season, with 28 Ligue 1 goals in 30 appearances (28 of those were starts), and has consistently showcased an ability to get on the scoresheet, amassing 27, 21 and 15 league goals in the three previous campaigns. It is reported that the signing will be for a club-record fee, perhaps in the region of £50-60 million, and could be completed in the coming days.

However, although many would want you to believe otherwise, spending money has not been Wenger’s problem in recent seasons. He spent nearly £100 million last summer on a wide array of players, invested over £30 million on Alexis Sanchez, just a year after breaking the transfer record in a £42 million deal for Mesut Ozil. His issues have centred on the retention, not the acquisition, of talent.

That is why the recent rumour that Arsenal will agree a five-year deal with Lacazette is so encouraging. Lacazette is a player who will be wanted by a vast array of clubs if he succeeds in North London, very much like Sanchez and Ozil this summer.

Being able to lock him down for an extended period gives the Gunners the power at the negotiating table, something they do not have with several players this summer. They will be able to dictate the price they sell him for and Lacazette will have to honour his contract.

This deal comes in stark contrast to the contract crisis that is currently engulfing the club. Per Transfermarkt, there are currently 11 players whose contracts expire next summer. That is a nightmare and makes doing business with any of those players, and, subsequently, any possible recruitments, given that the needs of the squad are not known with so many futures up in the air, difficult to tread.

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The signing of Lacazette is a significant one. However, what is more important, is that Arsenal are locking him down for the long haul. Let’s hope that means Wenger and the club are learning from their mistakes.