COMMENT: Let's not mess about. Alexandre Lacazette wouldn't be putting pen on an Arsenal contract without the presence of Arsene Wenger. This is his deal.
No Champions League football. Two stars with a foot outside the club. And an offer from Atletico Madrid, where best pal Antoine Griezmann has just signed a new deal. There's only one major reason why Lacazette would choose to join Arsenal this week - and that's the manager.
Jean Michel Aulas, the Lyon president, first opened the door on Friday during the signing ceremony of Mariano Diaz from Real Madrid.
"Alex has told us he wants to leave. Arsenal are back in talks with us," he revealed. "There's been talks. Arsenal have been very persistent."
Then Sunday, came confirmation. Aulas was happy to talk figures.
"The first offer made by Arsenal was £39.5m. The deal will happen for something between that and £43.8m. To be close to €50m is something unique, and will be a record for Arsenal and a record for Lyon."
For Wenger, it's a triumph - and should yield positive ramifications throughout the club.
Those complaints about failing to buy at the top end of the market? They're gone. The claims that Wenger and Arsenal were no draw without Champions League football? Shot down.
So what of it, Alexis? Mesut? Now inside the final year of their respective deals, surely Lacazette's arrival changes everything. A proven goalscorer. Courted by Diego Simeone and Atletico, no less. Yet, he's moving to Arsenal. Wenger's Arsenal. This has to force a rethink from the pair of 'em.
This wasn't a deal done over the phone.
It was Wenger who, barely days after celebrating consecutive FA Cup triumphs, jumped onto a jet for Nice and travelled to Cap Ferrat to meet with Aulas at his luxury pad. The Frenchman did the legwork on this one. With Ivan Gazidis in his ear badgering him about hiring a technical director, maybe Wenger felt he had something to prove. That he could still do it on his own. Whatever the motivation, in the end, it was successful.
Sure, the cynics will argue Atletico's transfer ban helped his cause. But you can only beat what's put in front of you. And it must be said, that same ban hasn't put Diego Costa off pushing for a reunion from Chelsea. The influence of Griezmann can also not be underplayed. The pair have been friends for over a decade. Both spoke openly about Lacazette moving to Madrid this summer. Even Aulas conceded the presence of Griezmann would see his star striker join Atleti. Bruno Genesio, the OL coach, went even further, admitting "they both complement eachother so well. They'd be perfect together in Atletico's attack". It was a done deal...
But then came Wenger knocking on Aulas' front door.
"Lacazette to Arsenal? This is a great thing," so says former Monaco midfielder Edouard Cisse, now a local pundit. "To join Arsenal and Wenger is good for him. He will spearhead their attack. It's the right option after the Atletico failure."
Again, for French football, Wenger is always front of mind. And for this transfer window, it appears he is happy punching up.
They already have Sead Kolasinac through the door and now Lacazette will arrive "Tuesday or Wednesday", according to Aulas. Two players coveted by clubs who have moved ahead of the Gunners over the past two years.
If Chelsea had had their way, Kolasinac would be a Blue. Instead, they're haggling with Juventus over a world record fee for Alex Sandro. Kolasinac may've cost nowt from Schalke, but before he and his Dad committed to Arsenal during that cloak-and-dagger London trip in February, they had offers from across Europe. Chelsea, Liverpool, AC Milan, even Barcelona were in contact. He arrives as a Bosman, but the work done behind-the-scenes by Arsenal shouldn't be underestimated.
And the same must be said about Lacazette. A goalscorer. A matchwinner. One to lift the support. And also to force those dithering over new deals to finally commit.
The club is on on the move. Kolasinac. Lacazette. A new fitness chief from the other side of the world. A contract expert hired from outside the sport. This has all happened in less than a month.
Arsenal is changing. It's moving forward. And the manager is embracing it.
