Arsenal Vs Spurs: Let Alexandre Lacazette loose

Ian Wright has stated that Arsenal and Arsene Wenger must let Alexandre Lacazette loose. What better game to begin unleashing him than a must-win North London derby.

The first North London derby of the season is here and Arsenal are in need of a win. After the loss to Manchester City before the latest international break, they slipped to sixth in the table, 12 points behind Pep Guardiola’s blistering side, and four points behind Manchester United and Spurs in second. If they want to keep pace at the top, they cannot afford to lose.

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That means that Arsene Wenger must get his team selection right. Unfortunately, as history has taught us all too well, that is not something that he can be relied upon to do.

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Ian Wright, the former Arsenal striker, has some advice for Wenger, and it involves the rather maddening dropping of Alexandre Lacazette. Speaking with The Official Premier League site, Wright stated that Lacazette needs to be played continuously, believing that now is the time to let the Frenchman loose:

"“Lacazette, I feel, is a fantastic signing, if you’re going to play him and play him continuously. If I had him in my squad he would start literally every game. he takes half chances, he finishes well with both feet and I think now he is ready to be let loose. The more he plays, the more consistently he plays for the duration of games the more goals he is going to score. He’s that predator in the box Arsenal have been missing for many years.”"

And Wright is spot on. It is infuriating to see Lacazette continually dropped for the big games. For trips to Liverpool and Manchester City, Wenger twice decided to shift Alexis Sanchez into the central striking position, perhaps wanting the greater pressing, hounding ability of the Chilean.

But, ultimately, this game is about goals. And that is what Lacazette is: A goal-getter. He proved it for France on Tuesday night, scoring twice against Germany, the second of which was an especially confident finish after being slipped in behind by Kylian Mbappe with time to think of his next move.

Moreover, as Wright alludes to, goalscorers need games. They live off a rhythm and repetition that breeds confidence. Without it, they can lose their comfortability with the team, with those around them, slipping out of step with the pattern of attacking play. Lacazette, right now, is performing without it.

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Saturday’s North London derby could be seen as a must-win game for the Gunners. Lacazette is needed. He is essential to their winning. It’s time to let him loose.