Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette has upset Arsenal fans across social media by claiming he "misses" playing in the Champions League and is in talks with plenty of other sides
(Image credit: Getty)
Arsenal captains and controversy: they're bedfellows, aren't they? Alexandre Lacazette is the latest to have cheesed off the Gunners faithful with exit comments.
Mikel Arteta's side slumped to a third consecutive defeat this weekend away to midtable Southampton, after dreary losses to Brighton and Crystal Palace in recent weeks. Stand-in captain Lacazette – granted the armband when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the honour in December – was absent via illness.
But that hasn't stopped the French striker from starting a new week by upsetting his own fans with an interview in which he has all but confirmed he will leave this summer.
(Image credit: PA Images)
"I am in discussions with a lot of clubs," Lacazette told Canal Plus, who has been heavily linked with a return to Lyon – who Arsenal signed the forward from back in 2017.
"I have never cut contact with Lyon since I left," the 29-year-old confirmed, adding "I try to return to the club once or twice a year to see the medical staff because we are really close. Lyon know that I am free, they have to come with a proposal.
"I want to play in Europe, it’s been a long time since I played in the Champions League, I’m missing it. It’s a little more complicated, nothing is impossible in life, but it’s a little more complicated."
(Image credit: PA)
Arsenal fans have since taken to social media to lambast their striker over the interview, with many claiming that the striker has not been playing at a Champions League level this season.
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Lacazette has four goals all season, two of them coming from the penalty spot.
One of the most senior players, captain of the club is coming out doing interviews about his next move. It shows where Lacazette is mentally and it’s not at Arsenal. This is the guy who’s been given the keys to fire us to the #UCL?April 18, 2022
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Lacazette has less npg than an interim manager yet is pining for ucl football. OK then.April 18, 2022
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Lacazette has given interviews where he says how much he misses Champions League football, and that he's open to leave for a European cup playing team. I feel its not the right time to make such statements when we're in vital phase of the season.What's your opinion? Discuss. pic.twitter.com/GqiqiwzW1dApril 18, 2022
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
