Arsenal Transfer News: Fresh Alexandre Lacazette Rumours, Latest Gunners Talk

Arsenal's chances of signing Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette have taken a serious blow after the Frenchman reaffirmed his commitment to the Ligue 1 outfit.

Per the Mirror's Liam Corless, the Arsenal target said: "From a personal standpoint, I will like to pass the threshold of 30 goals this season. There will be no departure. Everything is going well here at OL."

Speaking to Lyon's TV channel (h/t Get French Football News), he added:

The 25-year-old only needs three more goals to reach his target, and at his current rate of scoring, he could well reach it before the transfer window closes.

Lacazette bagged a hat-trick in his opening game of the season and brought his tally to five with a brace of penalties against Caen.

With Arsenal in desperate need of a striker, here's a look at how the Gunners faithful might be feeling:

In theory, the forward should be a realistic target for Arsenal—few goalscorers of his quality ply their trade for clubs outside of Europe's elite, and he'd command a higher wage packet at the Emirates Stadium than he currently receives.

The Gunners could still attempt to test the resolve of both club and player, but it seems as though they'll need to look elsewhere.

Maintaining a title challenge without a new centre-forward looks highly unlikely. They'll need to act fast to secure one before the window closes.

Arsenal also need a new centre-back, and according to Italian outlet GazzaMercato (h/t Jamie Styles of the Daily Star), manager Arsene Wenger has made contact with Fiorentina regarding defender Davide Astori.

The 29-year-old spent much of his career with Cagliari and enjoyed a loan spell with AS Roma before arriving in Florence last year.

Here are his Serie A stats with Fiorentina, courtesy of Squawka:

	Astori
Apps	33
Tackles	34
Interceptions	95
Clearances	158
Blocks	18
Aerial Duels	62
Aerial Duel Success	72%
Take-Ons	17
Take-On Success	89%
Pass Completion	89%

And here are some of his best moments:

Astori is capable of producing outstanding, all-action defensive performances and was among Fiorentina's top performers last season.

He's particularly dominant in the air, comfortable with the ball at his feet and excels at picking out a pass going forward.

However, he also has a tendency to switch off and make mistakes. He made six errors in the league last year that led to an attempt on goal, which was more than any other defender, according to Squawka.

Astori could provide cover for Arsenal, but as a long-term partner for Laurent Koscielny, there are more reliable options.