Arsenal: 4 big selection calls for Arteta vs Leeds

2. Play Alexandre Lacazette or Keep Him for the Premier League

The way the season was panning out had these fixtures down as certified Alexandre Lacazette starts. Showing his class and influence in the previous two league matches, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where he doesn’t make the starting lineup against Leicester.

But if Lacazette doesn’t play here, and Aubameyang certainly won’t either, it will leave the forward line looking inexperienced: Martinelli, Nketiah and Balogun are all in contention, but the presence of a Lacazette or Aubameyang will be missed (see: Burnley).

Seen cramping up in the latter stages against Villa made it clear the lack of minutes this season has impacted his fitness, and whether he has the capacity yet to play this many games in a short space of time remains to be seen.

If he doesn’t play on Tuesday then it opens the door for Martin Odegaard to impress after a pair of subpar outings.

So long as he’s central to the team by being up among the top passers then he can influence the games as he so likes. When he’s in a more retracted deeper position he can go lost, an issue that has its roots both in his physicality as well as systematically.

For the moment it does seem like Lacazette has overtaken the Norwegian in the pecking order, yet in a high energy cup tie with Leeds where some experience in the forward line will be needed leaves Arteta with an interesting choice to make.

Continued…