ARSENAL FORWARD ALEXANDRE Lacazette has rejoined Lyon on a three-year deal.
The 31-year-old former France international was a free agent after seeing out his contract with the Premier League club, which officially expires on 30 June.
Ligue 1 side Lyon confirmed on Thursday morning that they had resigned the player they sold to the Gunners in 2017.
โค๏ธ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐, ๐ธ๐๐๐ฉ โค๏ธ๐ pic.twitter.com/jtQ84XKOIH
โ Olympique Lyonnais ๐ฌ๐ง๐บ๐ธ (@OL_English) June 9, 2022
A club statement read: โOlympique Lyonnais are very proud and very happy to announce the return to the club of Alexandre Lacazette, a product of the clubโs academy, for the next three seasons.
โOut of contract at English club Arsenal, the French international has signed a three-year deal through 30 June, 2025.โ
Lacazette joined Arsenal on a five-year deal from Lyon for a club record ยฃ46.5million in the summer of 2017 and scored 71 goals in 206 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners.
At the time of his move to London, he had won 11 senior caps for France and has since made a further five appearances.
Lacazette scored six goals and made eight assists in 36 appearances for Arsenal during the 2021-22 season as they finished fifth in the Premier League, just missing out on a Champions League place.
Interesting combination of locks and backrows for Australia with 5 guys whoโs primary position is lock in the 23 and then Naisarani whoโs 6โ5 at 8. I guess that means Australia are looking at New Zealands issues from 1 through 6 and deciding thatโs the best way to take them on.
@Eddie Hekenui: I have a feeling Australia will target the nz lineout. Having Savea at 6 reduces their lineout options(he adds massively at the bd and in the loose obviously) and with Australia loading up in that area I can see them trying to disrupt the nz lineout and use their own lineout and maul in attack. Be a fascinating watch how that particular area goes.
@Eddie Hekenui: good
@Eddie Hekenui: good
@Eddie Hekenui: good to see Luke Jones back in the mix. He was phenomenal when he broke through for the rebels a few years back. Exciting hybrid lock to watch.
@Ian Verdon: Yeah Iโve just seen the NZ team. Read is a good lineout operator so theyโll still have 3 options but not as strong as usual where theyโve had 4 and Retalick as banker ball. Iโm just surprised Australia went with Latu ahead of Faingaa who was pretty lethal off the back of the Brumbies maul this season. Rodda had a strong season attacking opposition ball so I can see him trying to go after NZ ball. Lots of teams will be watching with interest to see if they can dominate in the set piece and how that affects the game because there are far stronger tight 5โฒs out there than Australia.
@Jim Demps: Yeah heโs an exciting player at his best but heโs been very up and done this year. Iโd love to see him hit form again.
@Eddie Hekenui: yeah sure didnโt faingaa get into double figures this season in the try scoring column? I think all of which were at the back of the maul. Read is a very dependable lineout operator indeed, I think the lineout is certainly an area opposition teams will target. The Nz scrum isnโt the weapon it has been in the past yet by no means poor but SA in particular would be relishing that front 5 battle.
@Eddie Hekenui: If youโre going after the NZ lineout faingaa is not your man to play to hit those darts. Very wishy washy as was clearly evident against the jaguares in the super semis
@Liam Flague: Heโs not perfect but heโs better than Latu and probably the best of a questionable bunch going on this seasons form. Brumbies had a strong lineout and a very dangerous maul with Faingaa being an important part of that. The last two times Iโve seen Latu play for Australia heโs fallen apart in the lineout. Against Wales in November they lost 4 or 5 lineouts and the last time he played NZ he lost 6 or 7 in 35 minutes.
I really like 11-15. Better centre pairing.
@Andrew H: it will be a great test to see where heโs at going toe to toe with one of the most in form and even at only 24 one of the best 13โs in the game. Can see goodhue using his power and exceptional running lines to ruffle OโConnorโs feathers.
NZ will stick to their usual strategy of pinning Aus in their half forcing them to run out.
Then scoring after with counter attacks from turnovers, while keeping the scoreboard ticking with penalties because of good defense. There is little Aus have in their arsenal to counter them, they will go down fighting like they always do.