You would think, given that Arsenal have lacked a top class striker since Robin van Persie left the club in 2012, that when Arsene Wenger finally brings one to the Emirates stadium, as the club's record signing no less, that he would be a guaranteed starter.
Only with Alexandre Lacazette, that hasn't been the case.
The Frenchman, signed for £52 million from Lyon in the summer, was reduced to a substitute role during Arsenal's visit to Anfield earlier in the season, where the Gunners lost 4-0 to Liverpool and was again benched for last weekend's 3-1 defeat to Manchester City.
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The decision to not include Lacazette in the starting XI drew the ire of many Arsenal fans, especially since Wenger's team looked a lot more threatening when the France international was introduced in the second half, scoring the goal that briefly brought the Gunners back into the game, before Gabriel Jesus secured all three points for Pep Guardiola's men a few minutes later.
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In an interview with SFR Sport, Lacazette's agent David Venditelli said of the situation, "It's not worrying, because he played at Chelsea. 'Our way of working is to relativise things: 11 matches, nine starts. Of course, it's not nice to see that he didn't start that match, but it was - as Arsene Wenger explained - for tactical reasons.
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"He's learning. Alex needs to have calm around him. He's happy, and Arsenal are too with his work. 'It's not because a player doesn't play, even though it's two important games of course. He would have preferred to have played them.
"When you're outside the club, I can understand the questions. I understand, but I think Alex isn't complaining about his playing time, even if he would prefer to start games like those against City or Liverpool.
Lacazette has impressed Gunners fans since his summer arrival, but has been benched for two of Arsenal's biggest games of the season, so far. Image: PA
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"But he talks to the manager, the staff - there's no problem. Afterwards, there's a choice made.
"You can't, every time your player doesn't play, even if it's Alexandre Lacazette, knock on the door or pick up the phone and talk to the manager. No, no, it's not time yet. Everything is fine."
Lacazette has so far scored six goals in his 12 appearances for Arsenal and, given his impact from the bench against City at the weekend, Gunners fans will be hoping Wenger decides to name the Frenchman in his next starting XI for the North London Derby against Tottenham, a week on Saturday.
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(H/T Metro)
Topics: Football News, Football, Premier League, Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette
