BREAKING NEWS: Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke, expressing frustration with Mikel Arteta for allowing the departure of the remarkable “goal machine” who left Arsenal for £0 and is now outscoring Saka

Arsenal has made considerable strides in various aspects over the past few years, enhancing their on-field performance, restructuring internally, and becoming more proactive in the transfer market.

Nonetheless, one significant challenge remains: optimizing the value of player sales.

Despite these improvements, the club has yet to fully capitalize on selling players for their true market value, which is increasingly vital in today’s football landscape.

Whether it’s been the difficulty of parting with aging stars like Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or selling key players like Granit Xhaka for less than their worth, Arsenal’s struggles in this regard are well-known.

A striking example of this issue is Alexandre Lacazette’s exit.

The French striker left Arsenal on a free transfer a few seasons ago, only to later surpass one of Arsenal’s current stars, Bukayo Saka, in goals scored.

Now 32, Lacazette returned to his former club, Lyon, and has been outstanding since his return.

During his five years at Arsenal, Lacazette demonstrated his talent, although he never fully met the expectations of being a prolific scorer.

He joined Arsenal in 2017 for a then-club-record fee of £47 million, arriving from Lyon with high expectations. His debut season in the Premier League was promising, as he netted 14 goals in 26 starts, but this would ultimately be his most successful league campaign with the club.

Throughout his five-year tenure, Lacazette made 206 appearances, scored 71 goals, and provided 36 assists, averaging 0.51 goals per game. His best performances came early on, but his scoring rate declined towards the end, leading to his departure in 2022.

In June 2022, Lacazette returned to Lyon, the club where he first gained fame.

While his departure from Arsenal was not particularly controversial due to his struggles in his final season, his outstanding form during the 2022/23 campaign has caused many fans to reevaluate the decision to let him go.

During that season, Lacazette scored 31 goals and provided six assists in 39 appearances for Lyon, earning the nickname “goal machine” from former teammate Sokratis.

Although his scoring has slowed somewhat this season, Lacazette continues to perform at a high level, exceeding expectations.

In contrast, Bukayo Saka has emerged as Arsenal’s standout player in recent years. In the 2022/23 season, Saka scored 15 goals and provided 11 assists, and he has already been involved in 24 goals this season.

While Lacazette’s recent scoring might overshadow Saka’s, most Arsenal fans and management would still prioritize keeping Saka in the squad due to his versatility, creativity, and potential as a cornerstone for Arsenal’s future.

Lacazette’s resurgence at Lyon raises questions about whether Arsenal made the right choice in letting him go. While it made sense for Mikel Arteta to part ways with Lacazette given his declining form and the club’s need for a new direction, his recent performances indicate he might still have had value to offer.

As Arsenal seeks a top-class striker, Lacazette’s departure serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in player sales in modern football, where effectively offloading talent can be just as crucial as acquiring it.