This is what Arsenal fans must remember about Alexandre Lacazette as exit confirmed

Alexandre Lacazette’s Arsenal career will come to an end when his contract expires at the end of the month, drawing his five years in London to a close.

Making 206 appearances for the Gunners, the Frenchman looks set for a return back to Lyon.

Lacazette joined in the summer of 2017 and was met with the huge expectations of following in the footsteps of his French counterpart and Arsenal Legend Thierry Henry.

An unfair comparison to make, but the 31-year-old leaves Arsenal with 71 goals and the 2020 FA Cup – not a bad feat for any player.

The forward arrived at Arsenal with a £46.5m value on his head, a player that was brought in for the big occasion. If he is going to be remembered at the Emirates for one thing; it will be that he always turned up in the club’s most important games.

Even in the most recent season, Lacazette popped up in the last minute to salvage a point against rivals Crystal Palace. A goal that saved a dreadful performance.

The 2018-2019 season was his best in the red and white of Arsenal – winning their Player of the Season award – scoring 19 goals in 49 appearances.

As the Frenchman departs the club, there will be a sense and possibly an unfair assessment that his time at the club was underwhelming. The signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January of 2018 highlighting the loss of trust in him as their sole frontman.

The Gabonese international joined the club and scored 10 goals in 14 games in a superb run before the season concluded. Lacazette never passed over the 14-goal mark in a Premier League season.

The two strikers attempted to play together but it will not be remembered as one of the great Premier League strike forces like Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.

Mikel Arteta has shown much faith in his side’s youth this season, meaning the striker’s game time diminished over the 2021-2022 season. It was inevitable that the player would move on once the season came to a finish.

It seems the correct time for him to move on. At 31, he still has a lot to offer the side that he joins. A true professional that has plenty of experience under his belt.

While Aubameyang’s departure from the club was an uncomfortable affair, Lacazette’s should be one filled with adoration for his tireless efforts for the club.

The player may not have always had the cutting edge an Arsenal frontman requires but he did not lack the spirit needed to earn the respect of the Arsenal faithful.

The Arsenal number nine may not have lived up to his club-record transfer fee at the time, but he was a dedicated pro that came up trumps for the club in many vital moments.