Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has claimed that Alexandre Lacazette is "playing like someone who wants to stay" after his heroics against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The ex-Lyon striker has donned the captain's armband since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's exit to Barcelona and saw his late effort deflect off the gloves of Jose Sa into the back of the net in a 2-1 win over Wolves on Thursday.
Lacazette is widely expected to depart as a free agent when his deal expires at the end of the season, but Arteta has now seemingly hinted that a new deal could be on the cards for the 30-year-old.
"When I see our striker in the 85th minute, chasing a full-back in the corner flag, winning the ball back, playing, going, fighting, missing one chance, missing two chances, going again. What can I do," Arteta told reporters in his post-match press conference.
"I can only praise him and try to help him as much as possible and give him support. At the end he got the reward. For me, it's Lacazette's goal. We don't know what is going to happen at the end of the season. What he needs to do is put aside that future.
"It is part of our game, we don't have contracts that run for 20 years. That's part of our job and we have to be conscious of that. There's nothing to tell him but to praise him, because every single day he behaves like someone that wants to stay with us."
Lacazette has banked three goals and five assists in 19 Premier League games this term and aimed a sly dig at Ruben Neves following Arsenal's post-match celebrations on Thursday night.
Ben Knapton
