Gary Lineker and Martin Keown have stated that they are ‘bewildered’ that Alexandre Lacazette doesn’t start more for Arsenal, as they told Match of the Day.
On Friday night, Lacazette started his first Premier League game of the season, as Arsenal beat Aston Villa 3-1 on home soil.
After Lacazette’s goal last Monday against Crystal Palace, he earned that start days later against Villa and produced a top-quality display.
Mikel Arteta has opted to pick Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up top, with Lacazette, who is in the final year of his contract, having to warm the bench in recent weeks.
Ex-Gunners man Keown shared that Lacazette is someone who Aubameyang ‘likes’ having in the XI and a player the youngsters also appreciate.
“Lacazette got a start,” said Lineker. “He is a player, I am always slightly bewildered that he doesn’t actually play more.”
Keown responded: “Me too. The young players really appreciate him. He played off the front, in the game on Friday night, and he was a revelation in that position because he pressed really well out of possession.
“Then, he linked up tremendously well. I think Aubmameyang likes having him in the team as well. He is a hungry player.
“In possession, where he links up really well, especially with Aubameyang. Arsenal just looked much more effective with him in there. He has got good vision. Good technique. Mature. And they need those sorts of players. I feel he should play more.”
It’s going to be interesting to see how things pan out for Lacazette this term, because the signs don’t suggest that he will be penning down a new deal.
The Frenchman can leave the Emirates on a free next summer, but will Arteta hand the £47 million player (BBC Sport), who turns 31 next May, a new deal?
If he puts in the performances, then some fans will question why not, but that forward area does need freshening up.
With or without Lacazette, the Gunners need to sign a young centre-forward that can lead the line in years to come, because the other young guns, like Ben White, Gabriel, Emile Smith Rowe, Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka, have proven that going down that road works…well, so far.
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