Arsenal legend Ian Wright insists Alexandre Lacazette is ‘coming way too deep’ and needs to become a ‘focal point’ up-front for Mikel Arteta’s side… as he demands more goals from the striker in the race for the top four
- Arsenal kept the pressure on fourth-placed Man United with a win over Wolves
- An injury-time own-winner sealed it for the Gunners a 2-1 amid their good form
- Alexandre Lacazette has become manager Mikel Arteta’s go-to man up front
- But Ian Wright has given the Frenchman some advice to aid the Gunners
Ian Wright has instructed Alexandre Lacazette to push up the pitch and go hunting for goals to strengthen Arsenal’s surge for a top-four spot.
The Gunners bagged a third-straight Premier League victory on Thursday, with Wolves keeper Jose Sa deflecting Lacazette’s effort into the net deep into injury-time at the Emirates.
Despite filling Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s boots since the now-Barcelona striker’s fall out with Mikel Arteta, Lacazette is still goalless in 2022. He’ll need to add to his three goals in 19 top-flight games to help drag Arsenal over the line.
Alexandre Lacazette forced the own-goal that handed Arsenal the victory over Wolves
The French striker is out of contract in the summer but put in a superb display on Thursday
The Gunners are keeping the pressure on Manchester United, who are only a point and two matches ahead of Arteta’s men, but Wright wants to see more from the Frenchman.
‘Ben White and Gabriel, the partnership is starting to work very well, like Partey and Xhaka,’ Wright told Premier League Productions.
‘We just need a little bit more going forward. Odegaard, for me, is the glue for everything.
‘We need more goals, we definitely need more goals.
Ian Wright has given Lacazette some advice as Arsenal push for European qualification
‘I’d like to see more goals from someone like Lacazette. I think some of the time he’s coming way too deep. We need a focal point because we’ve got players who can run off of him.
‘I’d like him to stay up there a little bit more, we know he has to link but stay up there a little bit more, give us someone to hit.’
Lacazette’s contract runs out in the summer and despite being handed the captaincy until the end of the season, the 30-year-old is linked with a move away.
However, the striker’s determined performance against Wolves might start convincing Arteta to fight for his Arsenal future.
‘When I see our striker in the 85th minute, chasing a full-back in the corner flag, winning the ball back, playing, going, fighting, missing one chance, missing two chances, going again. What can I do,’ the Spaniard said.
The forward has disappointed at Arsenal since arriving but could finally shine under Arteta
‘I can only praise him and try to help him as much as possible and give him support. At the end he got the reward. For me, it’s Lacazette’s goal.
‘We don’t know what is going to happen at the end of the season. What he needs to do is put aside that future.
‘There’s nothing to tell him but to praise him, because every single day he behaves like someone that wants to stay with us.’
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