‘Doesn’t have it’: Campbell says one Arsenal player has simply lost his pace

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Speaking on the Highbury Squad YouTube channel, Kevin Campbell has been discussing Alexandre Lacazette and his lack of speed these days.

The French striker used to be a sharp and fairly quick footballer who’d love to get in behind a backline, but nowadays, he’s more of a deep-lying striker who services Arsenal’s other forwards.

However, in recent weeks, Arsenal have had brilliant results with Eddie Nketiah, a much faster centre-forward, leading the line, and Campbell believes that Lacazette isn’t as much of an asset to Arsenal these days due to his lack of pace.

What’s been said?

Campbell spoke about Lacazette’s lack of speed ahead of the north London derby.

“Lacazette, for all of his qualities of bringing people into play. He cannot run in behind because he doesn’t have the speed anymore, not that he had it in the first place, but at least he used to get down the sides of people, now, he just doesn’t have it,” Campbell said.

Nketiah’s edge

Is Eddie Nketiah a better footballer than Alexandre Lacazette? That’s up for debate, but what isn’t up for debate is who is the quicker striker.

Nketiah is streets ahead of Lacazette when it comes to pace, and with Arsenal benefitting so much from his quick movement and runs in behind in recent weeks, that’s one attribute that the Gunners need from their centre-forward in the final weeks of the season.

Sadly for Lacazette, this isn’t something he can just work on either. He used to be a speedy forward, but with the striker turning 31 at the end of this month, age has just caught up with him.

He’d be brilliant in a team that doesn’t require a quick number nine, but sadly, right now, Arsenal are reaping the rewards of Nketiah’s pace, and that’s why he’s starting on a weekly basis.