190914 Alexandre Lacazette
Alexandre Lacazette has left Arsenal after five-years at the club. Image Credit: AFP

London: French striker Alexandre Lacazette will leave Arsenal when his contract expires this month, the Premier League club said, bringing the curtain down on his five-year stint with the north London side.

Signed in 2017 for a then club record 46.5 million pounds ($58.41 million) from French side Olympique Lyonnais, Lacazette was the club’s top scorer in a season twice.

Six goals

But the 31-year-old lost his place in the starting lineup this season after scoring only six goals in all competitions.

“Laca has been a fantastic player for us. He’s been a real leader on and off the pitch and has been a very important influence to our younger players,” manager Mikel Arteta said in a statement.

Lacazette, who scored 71 goals and provided 36 assists for Arsenal in all competitions, said farewell to the club’s fans in a tweet. “Once a Gunner, always a Gunner.”