Before Arsenal lost 4-3 at home to Liverpool, Alexandre Lacazette scored a hattrick for Lyon against Nancy in their Ligue 1 opener.
The striker has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal this summer with the Gunners, according to Lyon, having made a bid earlier in the window. However, since then, despite reports, it seems our interest has disappeared and the 25-year-old isn’t coming to north London.
After scoring his hattrick for Lyon on Sunday, the Frenchman apparently claimed that he’s happy at Lyon and aims to score 100 goals in Ligue 1.
“I am happy here,” he said. “I would like to reach 100 goals in Ligue 1.
“We are very happy because the first match against a promoted team is always perilous. This is a very good week.
“Congratulations to [coach] Bruno [Genesio], for his talk has borne fruit. We are very happy and will enjoy tonight but we must keep our feet on the ground this season.”
According to GFFN, he was a lot more coy about his future when asked, but this doesn’t change the fact that he won’t be coming to Arsenal. That ship hasn’t just sailed: it’s sunk.
Reporter: Do you have offers?
Lacazette (smiles): Ask the President.
Reporter: He's convinced you're staying.
Lacazette: I'm staying then.— Get French Football (@GFFN) August 14, 2016
Alexandre Lacazette: "If offers come in that one cannot refuse, I don't want to refuse them. If not, I am happy at Lyon." (C+)
— Get French Football (@GFFN) August 14, 2016
However, the timing of his hattrick is a little annoying, considering we should be and apparently are looking for a new striker, seeing someone we were previously linked with banging in goals highlights what we’re missing.
It should be said though, lack of goals against Liverpool wasn’t the issue. We still scored three. All our problems aren’t going to be solved simply by buying a striker.
Anyway, here’s the hattrick.
https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/764843377317797888