Arsenal: 4 reasons Alexandre Lacazette needs to be dropped

Arsenal's French striker Alexandre Lacazette reacts to missing a chance during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on February 10, 2022. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 04: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on April 4, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /

2. Lacazette’s Performances are Getting Worse

This is another very serious point that should play in the manager’s mind. The Lacazette who came into the team during the back end of 2021 and carried his form over into 2022 is not the same Lacazette fans see now.

He appears to be worsening, with his total lack of self-belief certainly a contributing factor.

Less than half of the 15 passes played into him against Brighton were successful. His touch was dreadful, and he knew it. As the game wore on he peeled off into areas where he could hide and shirk responsibility. It’s a dreadful thing to say but can anyone watch the game and feel differently?

It’s also apparent that his fitness, somehow, is deteriorating. When we speak about how he doesn’t even attempt to make the same runs or press as he used to, that’s possibly down to him needing conserve what little energy he has left.

Whatever the reasons may be, his performances are getting steadily worse. Simple passes go astray, he doesn’t use his body with enough confidence and he can no longer trap the ball as consistently as he used to.

The signs are there.

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