Andy Cole has told talkSPORT (22/11/20 at 3:35 pm) that Mikel Arteta doesn’t believe in Alexandre Lacazette and he is ‘surprised’ that he ‘doesn’t really have a position’ for him in the team.
For some strange reason, during his time at Arsenal, Lacazette has been a player who either wouldn’t get the run in the team he deserved or would always find himself being substituted midway through the second half.
Now, in recent times, he has been starting, but his poor form resulted in him being dropped to the bench for Arsenal’s goalless draw at Leeds on Sunday evening.
Former Manchester United striker Cole thinks there is a lack of belief from Arteta towards his 29-year-old hitman.
“I am surprised that he doesn’t really have a position for Lacazette,” said Cole. “Yes [after being told it looks like he doesn’t fancy him].
“If you look at his record, he will score goals. If the team is set up right, he will score goals. I think even ever since Arteta has taken over. I don’t think he has given him a proper run. 10-12 games. ‘Go on, you are going to play week in and week out for the next 10-12 games’.
“You have to feel your manager believes in you. You cannot be going out there thinking ‘right, I might have today and 70 minutes’. I mean the toast is up. I don’t think Lacazette goes into the game with much confidence, as he should, for being the so-called main centre-forward for Arsenal.”
What doesn’t help Lacazette’s cause is that Arsenal fans in recent weeks have been crying for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to play down the middle.
Well, they got their wish at Elland Road, and even though the North London side were down to 10 men for large parts of the second half, it didn’t make much of a difference.
If Aubameyang had been at his goalscoring best this term, like he was towards the back end of the last campaign, then things could have perhaps that bit easier for someone like Lacazette.
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