Arsenal round-up: Striker finally signs; Giroud set for Everton; Cazorla steps up recovery

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Arsenal have made their second signing of the summer as it was announced that Alexandre Lacazette has joined the club from Lyon. He is expected to travel with the squad to Sydney this weekend and could make his home debut in the Emirates Cup. The Gunners have not disclosed the fee, but it is reported to be a club record. Talking to the official website, Arsene Wenger had this to say on his new striker:

“We are very happy to have Alexandre join our group. He has shown over a number of years that he can score goals and that he is a very efficient finisher. As well, he has very interesting technical qualities and a strong character. So he is a guy who is a great addition for us, and someone who will help us challenge at the top level this season.”

It will be a relief to get a big signing like this one done early. Arsenal have the difficulty of being the only top six side not to have Champions League football to offer new signings and that will complicate issues in the transfer market. Lacazette has been a regular scorer in Ligue 1, finishing with exactly 100 and at the age of 26, he is now ready to test himself in a bigger league. This is a good addition for the Gunners.

Olivier Giroud is likely to be directly affected by the signing of his compatriot and it is being reported that he is close to leaving the club, with Everton being his most likely destination. Arsenal usually play with one forward and the 30-year-old wasn’t always a starter last season. With the addition of Lacazette, he falls further down the pecking order and a move could be best for him.

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Everton scout, Carlo Jacomuzzi, has been talking to Radio CRC, as reported by the Mirror and the Metro, and had the following to say on Giroud:

“There are no developments in the negotiations between Everton and Zapata, also because I think Everton are today going to finalise a deal for Giroud for £20 million, which is a bargain compared to the £25m being demanded for Zapata,”

Given the uncertainty over the future of Romelu Lukaku, Everton have been in the market for a new striker and Duvan Zapata was one of the names being mentioned. However, as the above comments suggest, it will be Giroud that arrives at Goodison Park. For a fee of £20 million, it will represent a great deal for Arsenal, as the Frenchman is no longer needed at the club. That will boost Wenger’s own spending power and that can only be viewed as a positive.

Santi Cazorla is stepping up his recovery as he bids to return to the first team at the Emirates Stadium. He has been missing since October and the Mirror report that he is likely to miss the beginning of the new campaign as well, with his return being pencilled in for December. Although he has considered retirement, this latest development suggests that he is moving closer to a comeback.

This is great news, as it is never nice to see a player go through injury problems, especially one as highly regarded as Santi Cazorla. He has a great relationship with the Arsenal supporters and it will be good to see him represent the club again, even if it isn’t until the end of the year. The Gunners missed him last season, as they didn’t have a like-for-like replacement in the squad. If he does return, it will provide Wenger with an excellent midfield option.