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Arsenal confirm Alexandre Lacazette’s departure

By James Cormack

Arsenal's French striker Alexandre Lacazette celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 13, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's French striker Alexandre Lacazette celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 13, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal have confirmed the departure of Alexandre Lacazette, who will rejoin his former club Lyon on a free transfer.

Lacazette has spent five years in north London after signing from Lyon for a then club-record £46.5m fee back in 2017. And while the Frenchman failed to live up to his hefty price tag, he’s been a valuable leader of a rapidly-evolving Arsenal squad during a tumultuous period for the club.

On Friday, Arsenal confirmed that Lacazette will be leaving the club following the expiration of his contract on June 30.

Arsenal confirm Alexandre Lacazette’s departure

In a piece titled ‘Thank you, Laca’ the club wrote: “Alex Lacazette will be leaving us at the end of his current contract, which runs until June 30.”

While Lacazette was never prolific for the Gunners, the striker ended his stint in north London as one of Arsenal’s all-time leading goalscorers in the Premier League with 54 strikes. The 31-year-old is an FA Cup winner, and he was twice the club’s leading scorer (2017/18 and 2020/21).

“Laca has been a fantastic player for us,” manager Mikel Arteta said.

“He’s been a real leader on and off the pitch and has been a very important influence to our younger players.

“His commitment with us has been exceptional and we wish him and his family success and happiness.”

Technical Director Edu, added: “A big thank you to Laca from everyone at Arsenal.

“He’s been really important for us. “He will always be part of the Arsenal family and we wish him well for everything in the future.”

The player himself bade an emotional farewell to the fans in a departing video.

“I want to say thank you, a big thank you because there was a lot of expectation from me when I signed, the welcome was amazing for me,” Lacazette said. “Thank you for the song as well, I never talked about it, but it really touched me a lot and a big thank you for everything.”

With Lacazette joining Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the departure lounge at the Emirates, it well and truly is the ending of an era in north London.

We wish Laca all the best for the future, and we’d love to see him back at the Emirates in short order! Once a Gooner, always a Gooner.

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