UNAI’S PSG BID FOR LAC

UNAI EMERY recognised the qualities in Alex Lacazette’s game long before the pair’s paths met at Arsenal.

When he took over as boss of PSG at the start of the 2016-17 campaign, Emery wanted to sign the then Lyon striker (above), but the relationship between the two clubs made it very difficult.

“When I arrived at PSG, we were thinking about signing Lacazette,” said Emery.

“We liked his quality and his characteristics and the people working at the club, when we arrived, said to us, ‘This player has the quality to play for PSG’.

“He was at Lyon and it wasn’t easy to have the conversation or to sign a player from Lyon or for Lyon from PSG.

“But now we are speaking together with Laca every day.

“Last year was his first year in the Premier League, it was a different league to the French League, a different position for him, a different rhythm.

“Not a different mentality, though, because he has a very good mentality and he gives himself very good chances to score. He is very efficient.

“But he needs to continue his adaptation to us, to the Premier League and to its rhythm.

“We are very happy but my message to him is, ‘Every day, don’t stop. Don’t stop in training, don’t stop in matches’.

“He must find his best performance in each minute of the 90 minutes – and he has to keep on doing that.

“I believe in him – and in the other players – but we need him to be happy with his role in the team and with his quality.”

Lacazette has played his part in a run which has seen Arsenal win nine on the bounce – matching Emery’s longest winning sequence as a manager.