Alexandre Lacazette admits Francis Coquelin had a big say on his move to Arsenal.

The former Gunners midfielder is now with Valencia.

"I had a tough decision to make because, for me, I needed the next step," he said about his 2017 move to the Premier League.

"A few years before, I had talked with Arsenal but it was not at a good time. When they came in again, I was so happy. I think the discussion with Arsenal and the club was so quick because for me it was obvious that I had to sign here.

"I'd actually visited Emirates Stadium before with Lyon. It was in 2009, the day after I had scored the winning goal in the European U-19 Championship final in France.

"I spent the whole night celebrating with Antoine Griezmann and Francis Coquelin and didn't go to bed. Then at 6am, me, Yannis Tafer, Timothee Kolodziejczak, Clement Grenier and Enzo Reale got the train to London to join up with Lyon.

"We only arrived at the hotel an hour before we had to set off for the Emirates!

"Francis and I kept in touch after that. We had a lot of contact over the next few years and even more in the weeks before I joined the club, especially when it became increasingly likely that I would come to Arsenal.

“He only said good things about Arsenal, which is not surprising because he wanted me to join the club.

“Even without that I still really wanted to come here. He stressed that it was a great club located in a fantastic city.

“He said I would not regret my decision to move here because of the people I'd be working with and, of course, the fans. He was right!"