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Arsenal news: Lacazette trains hard as striker eyes spot alongside Aubameyang vs West Ham
ALEXANDER LACAZETTE has been working hard on the training pitch as the striker eyes a spot in Arsenal’s starting XI when the Gunners face West Ham United on Saturday (3pm).
Arsenal have endured a difficult start to the Premier League season with back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea.
New manager Unai Emery will be disappointed with the results so far but has reason to be optimistic with a kind run of fixtures on the horizon.
Arsenal’s next match is against West Ham at the Emirates this weekend, with the Hammers having also lost their both their opening games.
And Emery will be pleased to see fierce competition on the training pitch as the Gunners were put through their paces at London Colney this afternoon.
One man desperate to make a good impression is Alexandre Lacazette, with the French striker finding chances limited at the Emirates so far this campaign.
Despite having scored four goals during a productive pre-season schedule, the 27-year-old has only managed two substitute appearances with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang preferred up front.
However, many Arsenal fans wish to see the duo paired together and the Hammers’ visit to north London could be the perfect time to try out the partnership in a competitive environment.
Fellow striker Danny Welbeck was also seen putting in the hard yards during the latest session, but the former Manchester United man is further down the pecking order.
Meanwhile, Alex Iwobi, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Mesut Ozil will all be at risk of rotation if Lacazette comes in and the trio must prove their worth to Emery.
Central midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka will also feel the increased competition for places if Emery changes formation to accommodate his £52million striker.
Both are already vulnerable following the summer arrivals of Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi, with the latter having caught the eye following his Premier League debut against City.
Elsewhere, Emery will be without captain Laurent Koscielny and fellow defenders Sead Kolasinac, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Carl Jenkinson this weekend, although Nacho Monreal is available after returning from injury last week.