Wright urges Arteta to make summer transfer U-turn
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has urged Mikel Arteta to extend Alexandre Lacazette’s contract as the Gunners striker enters the final months of his contract.
Lacazette, like fellow striker Eddie Nketiah, is free to talk to potential suitors with his current deal ending this summer, and both have been linked with the exit.
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Arsenal are believed to be keen on Lacazette remaining at the Emirates for another season, but the striker may be targetting a longer contract as he approaches his 31st birthday.
Lacazette has been vital to Arsenal’s resurgence in recent weeks, combining brilliantly with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli.
He was particularly impressive in the 3-2 win over Watford, picking up two assists, and Wright has urged the club to offer the man “feeling the vibe” a new deal.
“His position is vitally important to everything we’re doing, just look at the two assists he had,” Wright said on the Wrighty’s House podcast. “Unless we get that person, you think to yourself, ‘maybe we could give Laca another year or two’.
“I think Laca has got to stay around, man. You can see with his little back flick, his back heel assist, his little assist. Man is feeling the vibe.”
Arteta wants to continue his Arsenal rebuild this summer, and reportedly has three transfer priorities, including a pair of strikers.
Arsenal have been linked with a number of options, including Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Real Sociedad striker Alexander Isak, with Champions League qualification set to dictate their targets.
But Arteta has repeatedly stressed his desire to keep hold of Lacazette.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen at the end of the season,” Arteta said in February.
“We don’t have contracts that run for 20 years, it’s part of our job. He behaves like someone who wants to stay with us
“It was an important win for us. The way we won it creates such a belief and togetherness and an atmosphere and cohesion with our fans as well and that’s extremely necessary. This is a really young squad and we need that.”
