Newcastle legend Alan Shearer reckons that Arsene Wenger owes Alexandre Lacazette an explanation as to why he dropped him on Sunday afternoon against Manchester City.
Gooners were less than impressed when the team sheets were announced on Sunday and Alexis Sanchez, a player who wants a move to the very team we were playing against, was started up front over Lacazette. And Shearer wouldn’t be surprised if the 26-year-old himself is a little bit miffed at the decision.
“Yeah you’re right, he [Wenger] left him out at Anfield and he left him out today against your rivals,” said the former striker on Match of the Day 2.
“You spend £50m on a centre forward and you think in those big games, he’s the one thats got to make the difference.
“He’s scored six league goals, more than double anyone in that Arsenal team.”
He continued, “Not only that, but he’s played Sanchez today.
“A guy who doesn’t want to commit himself to the football club.
“Whereas he has signed for £50m.
“What does that say, not only to him, but to the rest of his team-mates?
“I think he’s got every right to knock on the manager’s door tomorrow morning and say ‘Hey, do you not fancy me or something?'”
Alexis was poor against City. The 28-year-old hasn’t been up to his usual standard this season, scoring just once in the Premier League, but he was even worse against Pep Guardiola’s table-topping side.
The Chilean completed 27/36 passes, only had one shot, which was off target, and was dispossessed a whopping SEVEN times. If that was supposed to be his audition to play for City next season, I’d say he failed.
Laca, however, came on in the 56th minute, when the Gunners were already 2-0 behind, and scored within 10 minutes of coming on the pitch. It was his sixth of the campaign.
As Shearer says, this is the second time the former Lyon man has been benched for a big game and he must we wondering what on earth he’s done wrong for Arsene Wenger not to be starting him when he’s clearly capable of finding the back of the net.
Why did Wenger fork out a club record of £52m on him if he was just going to bench him when the team need him most?