From the presser there's a clear suggestion that the club had agreed to a deal with Alexis at some point, and that he got his head turned. Arsene didn't deny it either, and having seen how he acts in pressers, it was as clear a confirmation as you get from him
on whether Alexis had agreed a deal to stay at Arsenal at some point…
Look, I don’t want to come back on the history of his negotiations, but maybe one day. Alexis is a great guy and has always been committed, did the negotiations go well or not well? It has never affected him and I would just like to remind you I took him to the hotel on the night before the Crystal Palace game and he was completely focused and ready to play the next day until I told him, look you can go home, the deal is over the line. So, that’s what he did. No matter how the negotiations went he was always focused on football.
on whether his smile means a deal was agreed at some point…
You can interpret my smile, you know me well enough for years, so I leave you free to do that.
