Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal took a risk in delaying contract talks with Alexandre Lacazette until the summer – with the captain now revealing he has opened discussions with other clubs.
Lacazette’s deal expires at the end of the current season and the 30-year-old currently looks set to leave the Emirates Stadium.
Lacazette said he was “in discussions with a lot of clubs”, adding he was “missing” playing in the Champions League and that he had “never cut contact” with Lyon, who he left to join Arsenal five years ago.
The comments could not come at a worse time for the Gunners, who face London rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening with their Premier League top-four hopes floundering.
Arsenal have now lost their last three games – to Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton – and sit sixth ahead of their short trip across the capital.
Asked if he was taken by surprise by Lacazette’s remarks, Arteta replied: “Well he doesn’t need to tell me what he does in his own life but he has, we have discussed that and he is entitled to do that – then he has a duty to do his best here.
“His contract situation allows him to make the decision about his future. We have expressed clearly what our intention is – to speak in the summer once we know where we are, about what we are going to do in the future together.
“And for the rest, I just want him fully focused on his duty, which is now defend Arsenal in the best possible way, like he has done all the time he has been with us. That’s why he has been wearing the armband of this football club, that’s a big reason.
Southampton v Arsenal player ratings
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SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Forster 10 – Single-handedly kept Arsenal at bay. He made two sensational stops in the first 20 minutes, first low to his right to deny Martinelli, and then high to his right to keep out Saka. In the second half, keep out Xhaka, Nketiah and Saka. Sensational. Getty -
Yan Valery 6 – Made a superb block when he took a shot from Nketiah into the midriff shortly after the break. Was guilty of some hurried clearances, and was sometimes caught on the ball. Getty -
Jan Bednarek 8 – Scored the only goal of the game when he found himself in the right place at the right time to lash home from close range. He also won all his battles and a made a series of interceptions and clearances. Getty -
Kyle Walker-Peters 6 – His speed was a good counter to the threat of Saka and Martinelli. Though Arsenal’s attacking duo looked dangerous in the first 20 minutes, Walker-Peters did well thereafter. Getty -
Oriol Romeu 6 – Having struggled against Chelsea a week earlier, Romeu worked tirelessly to keep possession better, and he certainly got the better of Arsenal’s weak midfield. Getty -
James Ward-Prowse 6 – There is more to the England midfielder than set pieces, but his corners were a constant menace. AFP -
Romain Perraud 7 – Had a speculative effort from 20 yards which was blocked for a Saints corner. On the whole, though, Southampton look more comfortable and composed with the Frenchman on the left. PA -
Stuart Armstrong 8 – Received a standing ovation when he left the field and deservedly so, for he worked tirelessly in attack. He was all over the pitch completing his defensive duties. Getty -
Mohamed Elyounoussi 7 – Did well to keep the ball in play for the opening goal. He didn’t give up on a ball that seemed destined to creep over the goal line, and his pull back found Bednarek, who scored. Led a late breakaway but wasted possession. AP -
Armando Broja 7 – Teased the Arsenal defence in the opening stages, getting the better of Ben White. Always a threat on the ball. Getty -
ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale 5 – Ramsdale had little to do until he picked the ball out of his net. He managed to get a hand to Bednarek’s effort, but there was simply too much power. Reuters -
Ben White 5 – The central defender was sluggish in possession and he found Broja a handful at times. Getty -
Gabriel Magalhaes 6 – Was guilty of playing the Saints forward line onside for the goal, but he was one of Arsenal’s better players, breaking the lines with his passing. Getty -
Bukayo Saka 6 – Had a glorious chance to give Arsenal the lead but his effort – with the goal at his mercy – was tipped over the bar by Forster. Was a constant danger, but couldn’t find a way past Forster. Getty -
Martin Odegaard 5 – The skipper failed to create much in the final third, though he saw an effort from the area well saved late on. Getty -
Cedric Soares 4 – A poor display from the former Saints man, who was particularly wasteful from set pieces. AP -
Nuno Tavares 4 – Taken off for Nicolas Pepe in the second half, he started well but lost his way as the game went on. Getty -
Albert Sambi Lokonga 4 – Lost possession on numerous occasions and was guilty of slowing the play when he brought the ball out from deep positions. Getty -
Eddie Nketiah 6 – Worked hard in leading the line but had to wait until late on for his first effort on goal, which was thwarted by Forster. AFP -
Granit Xhaka 5 – Xhaka played much better when he was given more freedom to roam forward in the second half. He had an effort from range which troubled Forster, but not enough to catch him out. PA -
Gabriel Martinelli 6 – Despite starting on an unfamiliar right-hand side he always looked a threat. He bookended Arsenal’s performance with chances at the beginning and end of the game. Reuters -
SUBS: Emile Smith-Rowe (Soares, 60) 6 – Though he brought a greater sense of urgency to Arsenal’s attack, he couldn’t fashion an equaliser for his side. Reuters -
Nicolas Pepe (Tavares, 70) N/A – The Frenchman’s lively cameo will have had Gunners fans scratching their heads as to why he didn’t start. PA
“The contracts start and end with the expiry date that you have agreed on that day that you put the pen down.
“Then you have to deal with the consequences with that and that’s the reality of the contract that he has, and the commitment and the duty that he has with the football club.”
Lacazette is unlikely to feature at Chelsea after testing positive for coronavirus and Arteta admits Arsenal may have also missed the boat on attempting to keep the France striker at the club.
“It is the agreement that we made with him, that was our position and our position remains the same, that is what we are going to do,” he said.
“The risk of that happening, it was always there since the moment we made that decision, then it is up to him. It is not up to us or him it is up to both parties.”
Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile, says the return of versatile defender Reece James has given him vital tactical flexibility as Chelsea bid to finish the season on a high note.
James missed two months earlier this season due to a hamstring injury and was sidelined again with a recurrence of the problem in March.
Since the 22-year-old returned to fitness, Chelsea have looked more composed at the back and carry more threat down the right flank.
Tuchel claims James is so good that he cannot decide whether the England international is better suited to play at right wing-back or right-sided centre-back.
The Chelsea boss revealed deploying James on the right of a three-man defence has not only helped combat opponents in recent weeks, but also contributed to keeping his player fresh.
"He can play both positions brilliantly, but we can only select him once," Tuchel said on Tuesday.
"I think that the back three is a little bit less demanding physically, in comparison to the wing-back position and given that he comes back from a long injury, a re-injury over so many weeks.
"This is anyway the next step, how many games can he play as a wing-back, if he plays wing-back during a season, reliable on a level where he's decisive.
"It's a bit less demanding physically in the back-three in terms of accelerations, long accelerations and high speed.
"That helps us to have him on the pitch for more minutes, and that's why he plays in there. So we need to decide, but that's the reason at the moment."
