Arsenal have completed the signing of Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon. The Frenchman has signed a 5-year deal believed to be worth around £200,000-a-week, making him the highest paid player at the club, and has arrived at the Emirates at a cost of £52m, a club-record fee.
The search for a forward at Arsenal since Van Persie’s departure has been painstaking. Whilst many will agree that Olivier Giroud is a competent striker, he is not the 25+ goals a season player that fans are used to at Arsenal with the rich history of forwards that have led the line over the years.
Lacazette has been a product of Lyon since 1998 where he began as a youth player for ELCS Lyon. He played a vital role in the youth team’s 09/10 season, scoring 12 goals in 22 appearances, earning him a place in the first team. The 26-year-old spent 7 years in the first team until moving to Arsenal, managing an impressive 114 goals in 242 appearances. In fact, Lacazette had the highest chance conversion rate in Europe’s top five leagues last season (38.9 per cent), scoring 37 goals in 45 games.
It is these impressive stats that have inspired Arsenal to break the bank for their new man, and with the new season fast approaching, the signing of Lacazette is a clear statement of intent from Wenger that he is ready to battle for the Premier League title.
Speaking on Arsenal’s official website, Lacazette said: “I am, of course, delighted and very proud too because Arsenal is a legendary club. Throughout my childhood, thanks to Thierry Henry and other French players, I always dreamed of playing for this club so today that dream has been fulfilled.”
“The fact that the manager has been here for a while shows that it is a stable club which I like. In addition there are quite a few French players here, which makes it easier to settle in. In my opinion, Arsenal is also the club that plays the best football in England so I really wanted to come here.”
Lacazette has been touted for a move away from Lyon pretty much every summer in the last 4/5 seasons due to his terrific goal return. With Arsenal fending off competition from a host of other clubs, including Atletico Madrid who the player had already verbally agreed to join this summer, Wenger will be pleased with how well the club has done with transfers so far.
Wenger said: “We are very happy to have Alexandre join our group. He has shown over a number of years that he can score goals and that he is a very efficient finisher.” on the club’s official website Arsenal.com.
“He has very interesting technical qualities and a strong character. So he is a guy who is a great addition for us, and someone who will help us challenge at the top level this season.”
So Lacazette joins Sead Kolasinac at Arsenal as the club’s second signing so far. The club faces exciting times ahead for sure, with a number of others linked with moves to the Emirates. Fellow Frenchman to Lacazette, Thomas Lemar, has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal this summer. The young winger could join Arsenal as a direct replacement for Alexis Sanchez should he leave the club. The main question around Sanchez is can Arsenal keep him and those inclined to bet on whether he stays or goes should use a paddy power free bet to make their wager whichever way they feel about the Chilean striker. Alternatively, the Gunners could pursue Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez who would be seen as a much cheaper option than Lemar.
Whichever way it goes, Arsenal are certainly involved in some serious transfer business this summer that will help to bolster the squad in preparation for the new season. The way things are going, maybe the Gunners can finally end their agonising wait to become English champions once again.