Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette has admitted that the presence of Alexis Sanchez at the Emirates Stadium is one of the main reason as to why he joined the club this summer.

Lacazette arrived into the Emirates from Lyon in the summer, for a reported fee of around £46m – at the same time that the Gunners wantaway Chilean was doing his best to join Manchester City.

However, the Frenchman has claimed that playing alongside Sanchez who was severally linked with Manchester City this summer is something that excites the Frenchman – and claims that he wants to continue that for a long time:

“That’s one of the reasons why I wanted to come to Arsenal – to play with players of [Alexis’] calibre,” Lacazette told Arsenal Player (via Goal).

“Just seeing him in training, I like the way he plays and his mental attitude. His approach makes me want to play alongside him – hopefully for many years.”

If Sanchez is to say at Arsenal for the amount of time Lacazette wishes, then Arsene Wenger will need to tie to Chilean down to a new contract as soon as possible.

The likelihood at this point in time is that Sanchez will not be an Arsenal player come summer – but that won’t stop Lacazette from hoping he signs a new deal at the Emirates.

Of course, this was all known to Wenger when he decided not to sell the Chilean at the end of August (despite huge interest from the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain).