Former Arsenal player and Lyon manager Remi Garde believes Lacazette and Giroud could play together.

• Garde used to pair up Lacazette and Gomis at Lyon
• It’s assumed that Giroud will leave now that Lacazette has arrived

Now that Lacazette has arrived, it’s assumed that Giroud will no longer have a first team spot and will thus look to leave the club.

Garde, however, has offered one solution not many have considered.

“Olivier and Alexandre are two different players that Arsène needs. The seasons are long and the aims are high for a club like Arsenal. To have these two players at his disposal is not too much, and it is possible to put them both in the same XI,” he said.

“The proof, at Lyon, is that Alex and Bafé (Gomis) played alongside each other at Lyon with me. We got the balance right by playing a diamond midfield. That is something that Arsène could do with these two players. Alex is a player who is sufficiently intelligent to adapt to that, Olivier Giroud too.”

Arsenal haven’t regularly played with two centre forwards since 2009. Since then, they’ve only done so when chasing a game.

While the option exists, it’s unlikely that Wenger would sacrifice a midfielder to get an additional striker on the pitch.

Garde, however, is right in saying that Arsenal need both Lacazette and Giroud.

While Giroud may not be the starting striker that will propel Arsenal to a title, he brings a lot of unique qualities to the squad and can chip in with goals off the bench. The season is long, and Lacazette can’t be expected to play every game.

If there’s a way of keeping Giroud at the club, Arsenal should be looking into it.