Lacazette keen to help Lyon qualify for Europe after returning to club from Arsenal

French striker signs three-year deal having left for the Gunners in 2017

Alexandre Lacazette holds up a Lyon shirt during a press conference to announce his return to the club on a three-year contract. AFP

Alexandre Lacazette said he is determined to help Lyon return to Europe after the French striker rejoined his boyhood club on a three-year deal on Thursday.

Lacazette, 31, will leave Arsenal when his contract expires at the end of the month having spent five years at the Premier League club, scoring 71 goals in 206 appearances in all competitions. The France international had joined the Gunners in 2017 from Lyon, where he played 275 matches and scored 129 goals.

Making his return to the club he joined as a 12-year-old, Lacazette is aiming to help Lyon return to European competition after the club finished eighth in Ligue 1 last season.

“Even without European football to play, the project was more important than anything else,” Lacazette said. “I felt I could be useful in the dressing room and on the pitch, it was the best decision. I want to help the club to return to the top and qualify for Europe.

"It's moving to come back to the stadium, to wear this shirt. I can't wait to meet my teammates and get started."

Lacazette was made Arsenal captain last season but said he is not expected to be named skipper by Lyon, adding: "It's the coach who will decide who will be captain. I don't need the armband to talk in the locker room and help my team."

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said he was delighted to welcome Lacazette back to the club.

"Thank you Alexandre for being with us this morning and for being with us for the next few years," he said. "We wanted to make our speech credible and move from words to actions."

Arsenal 2021/22 season ratings

ARSENAL 2021/22 SEASON RATINGS: (Manager) Mikel Arteta 7.5: Oversaw a disastrous start to the season but steadied the ship - including parting ways with an unsettled Aubameyang - to guide Arsenal to the brink of the top four. The Gunners may have missed out having stuttered at the worst possible time, but the club appears to be heading in the right direction under Arteta. AFP

(Goalkeepers) Aaron Ramsdale: 7. A few eyebrows were raised when he arrived from relegated Sheffield United for £30m last summer, but the England keeper has become the club's undisputed No 1. Superb when he first came into the team but produced some shaky displays towards the end of the season as Arsenal faltered. Getty

Bernd Leno: 5. Replaced as Arsenal's first-choice keeper early in the season after a series of unconvincing performances. Took the gloves in the cup competitions but the German will unlikely be interested in remaining a No 2 for another season so the exit appears imminent. Reuters

(Defenders) Ben White: 7: Another big-money, eyebrow-raising arrival last summer but White has provided a much-needed upgrade at the heart of Arsenal's defence. Took some time to settle and had some less than stellar showings but the Gunners are a more sturdy side with White in the team. AFP

Gabriel: 7. A mainstay in central defence, the Brazilian had another good season for Arsenal. Chipped in with a few important goals, too. EPA

Rob Holding 5: Very much a squad player but was given a chance to impress in Arsenal's biggest league game of the season and proceeded to get sent off against rivals Tottenham, who went on to win 3-0 and usurp the Gunners in the top four race. Getty

Kieran Tierney: 7. One of Arsenal's most important players but the Scottish full-back was hit by injuries yet again. Tierney's absence for the final 11 games no doubt contributed to the club narrowly missing out on top four. Getty

Nuno Tavares: 6. Overall an encouraging, if inconsistent, debut season from the 22-year-old full-back. The Portuguese was at times erratic and error-prone but also capable of strong performances. Plenty to build on for next season. Getty

Takehiro Tomiyasu: 8. Arrived under the radar last summer but quickly cemented his place as Arsenal's first-choice right-back following a series of impressive performances. A strong debut campaign was disrupted by a calf injury earlier this year but Arsenal have unearthed a gem. Getty

Cedric Soares: 6. A squad player who got a run in the starting line-up following Tomiyasu's injury absence. Can never fault the Portuguese's commitment but is not on the same level as his Japanese teammate. Getty

(Midfielders) Thomas Partey: 8. No surprise that Arsenal's worst spells of the season occurred when Partey was out injured. The Ghanaian provided structure, leadership, and quality to the Arsenal midfield. The Gunners just need him fit as much as possible. AFP

Granit Xhaka: 5. Few players divide opinion quite like Xhaka, and it was another streaky season from the Swiss midfielder. Played plenty of matches, despite looking destined for the exit last summer, and it's difficult to see what he brings to the team. Often outclassed against the big teams. Getty

Mohamed Elneny: 7. After making just one Premier League start up to April, the Egyptian became undroppable for the final seven games. Partey's absence played a part in that but Elneny took his chance, and on that evidence probably deserved to play more. AP

Albert Sambi Lokonga: 6. The 22-year-old Portuguese midfielder looks like he could be a talent and showed glimpses during his debut season. Used as a squad player and his game time was limited during the second half of the campaign. AFP

Bukayo Saka: 9. Sensational season for the England winger, who scored 12 goals and provided seven assists in all competitions. Arsenal, quite simply, would have been nowhere near the top four without Saka. Still only 20, he is fast on his way to earning legend status at Arsenal. Getty

Martin Odegaard: 8. Showed during his half-season loan spell what he was capable of and quickly became a key player in his debut campaign as a permanent Arsenal player. Provided the creativity and guile that had been missing since the prime Mesut Ozil years. AFP

Emile Smith Rowe: 8. Arguably Arsenal's best player for the first half of the campaign, scoring eight goals before the end of December. His productivity waned during the second half of the season and he was in and out of the team, but a very good campaign overall. Getty

(Forwards) Gabriel Martinelli: 6. The Brazilian is a serious talent capable of destroying teams but six goals and seven assists for a player of his ability is below par. Still, Martinelli is only 20 and has a massive future. EPA

Nicolas Pepe: 3. Arsenal's record signing looks further away than ever of justifying the €70m the club paid Lille in 2019. Limited to eight starts in all competitions and didn't start a Premier League game beyond October. Scored a solitary league goal and a further two in the League Cup. Surely headed for the exit this summer. EPA

Alexandre Lacazette: 5. Clearly a positive influence and trusted leader after taking the armband following Aubameyang's move to Barcelona, but a return of six goals in 35 appearances is nowhere near good enough. PA

Eddie Nketiah: 7. Only given a proper chance in the starting line-up at the back end of the season and took it convincingly. Showed he can score goals and lead the line. Will surely get many more opportunities next season. AP

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 2. Started the season encouragingly with four goals in his first eight games but that was as good as it got. Disciplinary problems and a falling out with Arteta threatened to derail Arsenal's season and the club cancelled his contract in January. EPA

Lyon general manager Vincent Ponsot added: "We want players committed to our project. The arrival of Alex is a first step. We want leaders."

Lacazette’s comeback was announced amid media reports that Foster Gillett, the son of former Liverpool owner George Gillett, has reached an agreement to become Lyon’s majority shareholder.

Gillett was a director at Liverpool during his father’s stint as part-owner with Tom Hicks, after they bought the club in 2007. According to L’Equipe, he has reached an agreement worth €600 million ($640m) with Aulas, who has been running the club since 1987.

Aulas confirmed discussions between potential investors and current shareholders were going on but said there was no guarantee talks will be conclusive.