Alex Lacazette says next season will be totally different for him on a personal level and that Arsenal have a ‘shiny’ future under Mikel Arteta.
In a clear indication that he sees his future at the club, the France international also said he’s ‘positive’ about life at the Emirates despite speculation linking him with a move this summer.
Having registered 32 goal involvements (13 assists and 19 goals) in 49 games last season – a tally that led to him being crowned the Gunners player of the season – Lacazette’s tally of seven assists and 12 goals this campaign has been something of a disappointment.
Picking up an injury in pre-season seemed to knock him off his stride and his form more than anyone else’s seemed to dip as the squad lost its way under Unai Emery.
Laca has looked a lot more like his old self in recent weeks and hopes he can carry on improving with Arteta providing his players with a clearer philosophy to follow.
Speaking ahead of the FA Cup final, he reflected: “It has been a difficult season, maybe the most difficult of my career. But I know I learned a lot this season, mentally, thinking more about the team than scoring goals when I had my long period without goals.
“I know this season when we talk about statistics, it is not the best one. But it is still only one season and I know next season is going to be totally different for me.”
Reflecting on where things went wrong this season, Lacazette suggested that the club were always going to have a tough job rebuilding after the exit of Arsene Wenger; the man who signed him for a then club-record fee from Lyon in the summer of 2017.
“Arsene was there for 22 years so he had his own habits, he controlled everything,” said the striker.
“So when there was a change we needed time to rebuild everything and to be more stable. We tried with Unai but in the end it was not what everybody wanted.
“Now the players understand more what the manager wants and with time it will be easier for all the team. I am positive, I am looking forward. I know it is going to be better.
“The future is going to be more shiny for the team. We know the coach is clear about this. He came here to put Arsenal on top of the league.”
Here’s hoping the boss also came here to win us the FA Cup as well, it is shiny after all.
I don’t know about this. 1) There seems to feel like improvements (certainly for a number of often unfairly criticised scapegoats – Mustafi, Xhaka) but on the other hand he has not been able to get other nominally better performers on side like Sokratis and Guendouzi, Torreira. Pepe has not been as promised either. 2) Also our finish has not suggested much difference in 8th. we are now leaving it late with a cup final which is always a MASSIVE risk. Should we lose it, the feeling at the club won’t be good but more importantly we will likely shed… Read more »
Not really sure about the downvotes here, you’re pretty accurate
1) I think Pepe receives a lot of unfair criticism, probably because of his massive price tag but we have to consider that he came into the club at the worst possible time. Emery was driving us into a ditch, Auba and Laca were not at their best, Xhaka was feuding with the fans, and so on and on. I feel now, after a pre-season with Arteta, he will really come into his own. Torreira suffered from a bad injury which kept him out of the team. Arteta will make him come good. Sokratis is past his best though, and… Read more »
1. Sokratis is not good enough, Guendouzi poor attitude, Torreira although good in 4-2-3-1, has limited passing ability which is not suited to 3-4-3. That’s why they are not in the team. Arteta is a genius, so relax and trust him. 2. With Arteta and his tactics we won FA cup (30 m Europa as well). Unimaginable under Emery. FA cup comes only late in the season..What do you mean by leaving it late?. Arteta came only in December…Without him no FA cup and would have finished worse than 8th 3. Dani ceballos hit, Tierney hit, Guendouzi hit, Leno hit,… Read more »
Shiny hair cut, let’s hope for that shiny FA cup too.
The future is bright; the future is Arsenal.
Giroud was always a better player than this guy and unfortunately for us that will be proved in the final.
well, that was obviously not the case.
This didn’t age well did it?
Tomorrow is a big fuckin day
Just been reading Lacazettes comments on how empty they felt after the humiliation in Baku.Hopefully those thoughts will want to be banished and spur the boys on to a famous victory.COYG.
Those thoughts should not exist, I understand but it feels like self pity and I ain’t having none of that shii. Be monsters at your game plan, law of nature is you won’t lose. If you lose you lost after that you lost to sth beyond your control and everyone knows you need some luck to win whatever
This sounds like dialogue from a really bad Guy Richie movie.
Haha
I don’t know said guy
…is shinier…
I’ll grab my coat
There’d be a new rivalry next season if arsenal win the FA cup.
An Arteta vs Lamport rivalry.
You cant deny Leeds Utd that rivalry.
Anyone here wears Medium jersey size and has found that this year’s jersey has a tighter fit? i.e. requiring possibly Large size instead?
That’s a lockdown belly you’re experiencing
I wear L and have 7 different jerseys. Needless to say I’ll be donning my big Arsenal beach towel today..
Victory in the FA Cup would be great and very helpful. But it should absolutely not be viewed as a make or break match. We are building and it will take time to correct the errors of Wenger’s last years and straighten out the mess of Emery’s period. If we lose we should take it on the chin and move on rather than wallow in self pity.
By the way, anyone know what happen d to Dave M?
I believe we are on the up , I am very confident that today’s game is a win for Arsenal, I am also confident that if we win today our Captain will be putting pen to paper sometime soon, we need to get behind the manager and the team, we will get there .
Arsenal for ever in our blood .
Shiny and chrome! To Valhalla!