Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has told the club captain Alexandre Lacazette to focus on finishing the season with Arsenal amid the latter’s contract running down.
Laca gave an interview to French outlet Canal+ this week where he announced he is speaking to other clubs, such as former club Lyon. Arteta reiterated Arsenal’s plan that they will discuss Lacazette’s future at the end of the season.
“His contract situation allows him to make a decision about his future,” the Gunners boss said.
“We have expressed clearly what our intention is: to speak in the summer once we know what we do in the future together.
Focus
“For the rest, I want him fully focused on his future which is to defend Arsenal all the time like he always does and that’s why he’s wearing the armband.”
Arteta admitted he did not know that Lacazette was speaking to other clubs but said the striker was entitled to do what he wants with his future.
“He doesn’t need to tell me what he does in his own life,” Arteta added. “He’s entitled to do that and he has a duty to do his best here.
“It’s an agreement we made with him. Our position remains the same. It’s not about us or him, it’s about both parties.
“It’s not about me, it’s about me as a club. It’s the decision we made about the club, we had that decision to understand better of what we want to do in the summer. That’s what we decided. I cannot go into many details but there are a few things there.”