Alexandre Lacazette refers to ‘best decision’ over Lyon transfer, as Arsenal wait on replacement

Lyon have announced the return of Alexandre Lacazette on a free transfer from Arsenal five years after he left the French club.

The striker, 31, was out of contract at The Emirates at the end of the month and he has signed a three-year deal with the Ligue 1 club.

The Frenchman scored 71 goals in 206 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal. But he managed just managed just six goals in 36 appearances last term.

The arrival of Lacazette is a real coup for Lyon, who missed out on European football after finishing eighth. But the Lyon-born attacker is relishing getting Les Gones back to the top table of European football. He described his transfer as the “best decision to make”.

“Thank you for the welcome and the love shown in recent months,” Lacazette said at his unveiling, via RMC Sport.

“My return has become obvious in recent weeks. Even without Europe, the project is important. I felt useful in the locker room and on the pitch. It was the best decision to make.

“I took some time to make my decision. Football is a beautiful profession. It was complicated to follow OL’s last season from a distance because I couldn’t help. I hope this period is over and that we are going to find a great Lyon.

“The priority is above all to help the club return to the top of the bill with European qualification.”

With Lacazette officially gone, Arsenal will step up their efforts to land a replacement.

Arsenal wait on Gabriel Jesus

Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus.

Arsenal confidence grows about signing Gabriel Jesus from Man City

Arsenal have hope of signing Gabriel Jesus for £40m from Manchester City and are confident they can get a deal done

Edu is understood to have approached Jesus in November. The Arsenal chief has a close relationship with the player’s agent Marcelo Pettinati and the City forward.

Jesus is out of contract in 2023 and with Erling Haaland bound for The Etihad, a deal looks more and more likely.

Haaland has yet to be officially unveiled, with City thought to be keen to avoid stripping Jesus of his No.9 shirt in order to hand it to the Norwegian.

Football.London report that City do not want to upset the dressing room by axing Jesus from his favoured No.9.

It could well be that City are waiting for the departure of Jesus, so they can they hand his vacated number to the Borussia Dortmund striker.

According to the Mirror the north London side have offered a salary of £190,000 per-week plus bonuses to Jesus. That is a £80,000-a-week increase on his City pay.