LONDON, June 3 — French striker Alexandre Lacazette will leave Arsenal when his contract expires this month, the Premier League club said today, 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 (RM256 million) from French side Olympique Lyonnais, Lacazette was the club’s top scorer in a season twice.

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.” — Reuters

SYDNEY, June 3 — Former Liverpool and Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge was released by Australian club Perth Glory on Friday after playing less than 140 minutes of football in an injury-blighted campaign.

The 32-year-old former England international started only one of the six games he played and failed to find the net as Glory finished bottom of the 12-team A-League with four wins from 26 matches.

Sturridge was one of six players to leave Glory on Friday, the day after former Australia midfielder Ruben Zadkovich was named coach for the next two seasons.

Former Ireland striker Andy Keogh, whose goals helped Glory to the 2018-19 championship final, has retired and will take up a role as head of recruitment, the club said. — Reuters