Arteta confirms Arsenal are not discussing a new contract with Lacazette
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted the club are yet to open contract talks with Alexandre Lacazette.
The French forward has just under two years remaining on his current deal and Arsenal were thought to be keen on tying him down to an extension.
The Gunners were given an anxious wait over the future of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer after he entered the final 12 months of his contract.
But despite Lacazette edging towards that mark Arteta says discussions with the 29-year-old are not a priority.
“At the moment, we haven’t started any negotiations,” Arteta said. “We have a lot of things still to do in this market and at the moment we are focusing on those things.”
(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
There were reports suggesting Lacazette could be sold this summer to fund Arsenal’s pursuit of other targets but Arteta has always insisted his desire to keep him.
Lacazette was in and out of the side last season following the Spaniard’s appointment as manager and the emergence of promising youngster Eddie Nketiah.
He has started both of Arsenal’s fixtures so far this season though, and scored the opener in both.
“He’s a player I’m really happy with,” Arteta added. “I think we’ve shown him a lot of faith since I arrived here.
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“But we cannot start any speculation. We know that any player who is under two years of their contract is always going to be talked about.”
Lacazette’s header after 25 minutes put Arsenal ahead against West Ham on Saturday before Michail Antonio’s equaliser before the break.
The Hammers looked to be heading for a draw until Nketiah struck a late winner to give Arsenal maximum points from their opening two games.
It was far from a vintage performance from Arsenal though and Arteta is aware there is work to be done.
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(Image: Pool via REUTERS)
“I am really happy with the three points,” he said after the match. “I need to analyse properly, because we have a lot of issues that we created ourselves in many moments.
“It reminded me a little bit the game, and phases when we played them last year and let them run.
“There is no structure in the world that can sustain when someone has the ball completely free and gives it to the opponent. We have to improve in many things.
“We created enough chances to win the game, but we conceded too may chances that were our fault.”
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