Arsenal confirm Alexandre Lacazette exit as captain prepares to return to Lyon

Arsenal have confirmed that Gunners captain Alexandre Lacazette will leave the club at the end of the season with his contract due to expire.

The Gunners released a statement confirming that the Frenchman will depart later this month. It read: "Alex Lacazette will be leaving us at the end of his current contract, which runs until June 30. Since joining us from Lyon in July 2017, Laca made 206 appearances in all competitions, scoring 71 goals."

Lacazette originally joined the Gunners from French outfit Lyon for a reported £52.7m during the tenure of Arsene Wenger. Since then, he has gone on to make 206 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 71 goals in all competitions.

He was of course part of the side to lift the FA Cup under Mikel Arteta, whilst he also claimed the Community Shield the following season. However, his contract was set to expire at the end of this season, with it now being confirmed that the Frenchman will draw a line under his stay at the Emirates Stadium.

Upon confirmation of his exit, Lacazette sent a touching message to supporters with short but simple "Once a Gunner, always a Gunner" on Twitter.

He of course becomes the second big-name forward to quit the Emirates this season after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's move to Barcelona in January. The pair's exit leaves the Gunners with only Eddie Nketiah as the club's only senior striker heading into next season.

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The Hale End academy graduate is also out of contract at the end of the campaign too, but recent reports have suggested that he is close to agreeing fresh terms with the north London side. Even then, Mikel Arteta is expected to dip into the transfer market for attacking reinforcements, Man City's Gabriel Jesus at the current time the most likely candidate with Arsenal having fallen out of the race for Napoli star Victor Osimhen.

Regarding Lacazette, it remains to be seen where his future lies after quitting north London. Former side Lyon have been the strongest club linked with a move for his services. The 31-year-old has already hinted that a reunion with the French outfit could be a possibility down the line.

Speaking earlier this season, he said: "I have never cut contact with Lyon since I left. I try to return to the club once or twice a year to see the medical staff because we are really close. Lyon knows that I am free, they have my information.

"It's a bit more complicated [if they fail to qualify for Europe]. I want to play in Europe, it's been a long time since I played in the Champions League, I'm missing it.

"It's a little more complicated, nothing is impossible in life, but it's a little more complicated."