Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has commented on Alexandre Lacazette’s lack of goals this season after the Gunners’ 2-1 loss to Brighton on Saturday.
Speaking to the press via Football London, the 40-year-old coach said that the Frenchman’s performance left him upset, though Arteta pointed the poor attacking display down to a collective effort rather than just pinning it on Lacazette’s shoulders.
The Gunners were toothless in a dismal performance at home against Brighton, with Martin Odegaard’s deflected strike from distance Arsenal’s only goal of the match as Arteta’s side suffered a huge blow in the top-four race.
After their Monday night loss to Crystal Palace and Tottenham once again winning big, Arsenal are now three points off fourth-place, with a UEFA Champions League finish slipping from their grasp despite looking like nailed-on favourited to finish in the top four.
Indeed, Arsenal’s lack of a world-class striker has been consistently brought up by fans and pundits this season, and it showed against Brighton, with Lacazette having another game to forget as the Frenchman was quiet all match.
And for Arteta, whilst he refused to outright criticise the Arsenal captain, the Premier League manager was clear in his comments on the Gunners’ attack against Brighton, with the north London boss saying: “We need to score more goals that’s for sure. That’s a collective issue. I’m never happy, especially when I lose, I’m really upset. I cannot be happy.”
Arsenal made a huge risk in January in choosing not to sign a top-quality striker following the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and their defeat to Brighton proved just that.
Whilst the lack of Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney were also huge factors in the loss, Lacazette’s poor performance once again highlighted just how badly Arsenal are missing out on a top striker, who could have made the difference against Brighton this weekend.
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