Alexandre Lacazette will leave Arsenal when his contract expires this month – with striker ‘linked with a return to Lyon this summer’

Arsenal have confirmed that striker Alexandre Lacazette will be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of June.

The Frenchman joined the Gunners in the summer of 2017 from Lyon and went on to make 206 appearances for the London club, scoring 71 goals.

Lacazette was part of the 2020 FA Cup winning team and won the Community Shield in both 2017 and 2020.

He was Arsenal’s top scorer in his debut season with the club and again in the 2020-21 campaign.

He was voted Arsenal’s Player of the Season in 2018-19 as the Gunners finished runners-up in the Europa League.

Mikel Arteta and Edu praise Alexandre Lacazette

Manager Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Lacazette as the club announced his departure on their official website.

He said: ‘Laca has been a fantastic player for us. He’s been a real leader on and off the pitch and has been a very important influence to our younger players.

‘His commitment with us has been exceptional and we wish him and his family success and happiness.’

Technical director Edu added: ‘A big thank you to Laca from everyone at Arsenal. He’s been really important for us. 

‘He will always be part of the Arsenal family and we wish him well for everything in the future.’

Lacazette has been strongly linked with a move back to boyhood club Lyon, with media reports suggesting that the 31-year-old has agreed terms with the French club.

Before joining the Gunners, Lacazette scored 129 goals in 275 games for his hometown club.