Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette recently revealed midfielder Francis Coquelin helped sell the idea of this summer’s Emirates switch.

In an interview on Arsenal’s official website via Daily Mail, the £46m centre-forward admitted his long-term friendship with Coquelin was part of the process to help him move from Lyon.

“We’ve had a lot of contact over the last few years and even more over the last few weeks, of course, since it became increasingly likely that I would come to Arsenal.

“He has said only good things about Arsenal, which is not surprising because he wanted me to join the club. Even without that I still really wanted to come here.

“He stressed that it was a great club located in a fantastic city. He said I would not regret my decision to move here because of the people I’d be working with and, of course, the fans.”

Arsenal made Lacazette their most expensive signing and were impressed by his goal tallies from the last few seasons. He’s netted £20+ Ligue 1 goals in each of the last three campaigns.

Arsenal fans may be turned off on the idea of thanking Coquelin, but he’s proven very useful in negotiation.