Arsenal Football Club has made remarkable progress on and off the pitch in recent years, but they continue to face a significant challenge in player sales. Despite their improvement in recruitment, performance, and overall operations, the Gunners have struggled to maximize the value of players when selling them, a key aspect of modern football. One recurring issue has been their difficulty in offloading players for the right price or at the right time. Whether it was allowing aging stars like Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to leave for little to no return or selling players like Granit Xhaka below market value, Arsenal has yet to master this important aspect of the transfer market.
A clear example of this issue is Alexandre Lacazette’s departure from the club. The French striker left Arsenal on a free transfer a couple of years ago and has since revitalized his career at Lyon, outscoring one of Arsenal’s current top performers, Bukayo Saka. Lacazette, now 32 years old, has been in outstanding form since rejoining Lyon, but his time at Arsenal told a different story.
Lacazette was signed by Arsenal in 2017 for a then-club-record fee of £47 million from Lyon. His debut Premier League season was promising, with 14 goals in 26 starts, but this would end up being his highest league tally in five years at the club. Over his 206 appearances for Arsenal, Lacazette scored 71 goals and registered 36 assists, averaging 0.51 goal involvements per game. However, his goal-scoring consistency waned in later seasons, and by the time his contract expired in 2022, his departure seemed like the right decision for both parties.
Returning to Lyon in June 2022, Lacazette quickly hit form. In the 2022/23 season, he played 39 games and scored 31 goals, with six assists, earning praise from his former Arsenal teammate Sokratis, who dubbed him a “goal machine.” Although his scoring has slowed this season, Lacazette’s resurgence at Lyon has raised questions about whether Arsenal let him go too soon.
In comparison, Arsenal’s current star, Bukayo Saka, had a stellar 2022/23 season, with 15 goals and 11 assists, contributing to 24 goal involvements this season. While Lacazette’s recent scoring record might outshine Saka’s, the young Englishman’s versatility and creativity make him indispensable for Arsenal. Most fans and the club’s management would likely still prefer to have Saka in the squad due to his potential and all-around abilities.
Nonetheless, Lacazette’s impressive performances in France prompt reflection. While Mikel Arteta’s decision to part ways with Lacazette made sense at the time, given his decline at Arsenal, his success at Lyon suggests he may have had more to offer. It underscores the importance of player sales and management decisions in modern football, as getting these choices right is crucial to a club’s long-term success.