France manager Didier Deschamps has outlined what in-form Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette must do to make his next squad.
Lacazette, who has five goals in 10 appearances for Arsenal so far this season – including two last time out against Fulham – was omitted from Deschamps’ October squad.
Despite failing to score throughout the World Cup and at all for Chelsea this season, former Gunners striker Olivier Giroud was selected ahead of Lacazette as was Thomas Lemar (one goal in seven appearances for Atletico).
Then when Nabil Fekir pulled out of the squad through injury, Deschamps elected to replace the attacker with Dimitri Payet.
The decision to leave the Arsenal fans’ favourite out has left Gunners fans scratching their heads.
Many are wondering exactly what the former Lyon striker must do to make the cut for Les Bleus after the double snub.
Well now they know, after an explanation from Deschamps himself.
“There is competition for each position,” Deschamps said, as reported by the likes of Get Football News France.
“When the players who were at the World Cup are performing well… It is not a question of type of player, but of position.
“I need balance in the squad and he (Lacazette) is a central attacker. He must continue.”
We presume Deschamps means ‘continue’ scoring goals at the rate Lacazette is now.
That means by the time the manager names his next France squad in a months’ time, the Arsenal star is under pressure to keep up his ratio of a goal every other game.
Yet those demands aren’t the criteria set for others in the squad.
Other than the red hot Kylian Mbappe (10 goals in 7), Antoine Griezmann is the only French player who comes close to matching Lacazette’s scoring efforts so far this season with four in 11.
The good news is that the striker has a realistic chance to meet Deschamps requirements.
Arsenal have winnable games against Leicester, Sporting (twice), Crystal Palace, Blackpool and Wolves as six of their seven fixtures before the next France squad is named in November.
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