Mikel Arteta still has no plans to tie down Alexandre Lacazette’s future until this summer, despite his contract expiring at the end of the campaign.
The Frenchman is the Arsenal captain and has been a key part of the team since December as the Gunners made their way up the Premier League table.
They are now in a strong position to finish fourth, with Lacazette helping out youngsters in the side like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard.
Lacazette did not score, but three of those youngsters did in the 3-2 victory over Watford on Sunday, with Smith Rowe missing the match through illness.
Arteta was asked if there is a case for Lacazette extending his stay at the club, and he admitted there was, but Arsenal in no rush to do anything about it – with Eddie Nketiah and Elneny in the same situation.
‘There is a case,’ said Arteta. ‘At the end of the season when we know where we are we’ll sit down with those three players and between all of us make a decision.’
Lacazette’s link-up play has been impressive, with Arteta describing his efforts as ‘phenomenal’ but he has not been prolific, scoring just three league goals in 20 games this season.
‘He will still not be happy because he wants to score,’ continued Arteta. ‘A lot of things he does for the team are phenomenal.’
Speaking last week on the same issue, Arteta said: ‘We don’t know what is going to happen at the end of the season. What he needs to do is put aside that future. It is part of our game, we don’t have contracts that run for 20 years. That’s part of our job and we have to be conscious of that.
‘There’s nothing to tell him but to praise him, because every single day he behaves like someone that wants to stay with us.’
