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Alexandre Lacazette: The reason Arsenal star is suspended for Rennes Europa League tie
ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE will sit out Arsenal’s Europa League round of 16 tie against Rennes. Express Sport is on hand to explain why.
Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette scores STUNNING goal in training
Lacazette has enjoyed a decent season to date with 14 goals coming in 34 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal.
The 27-year-old hitman has featured four times in the Europa League this term, scoring the winner against Qarabag back in December.
Unai Emery, though, will not be able to call upon Lacazette as Arsenal look to get the better of Rennes in the round of 16.
And that’s because of what happened in the first leg of their round of 32 tie against BATE Borisov last month.
What Alexandre Lacazette did
Lacazette started up front for Arsenal in their Europa League showdown with BATE in Belarus.
But, like the rest of his team-mates, he failed to produce the goods in their shock 1-0 defeat.
Frustration got the better of Alexandre Lacazette, who lashed out by elbowing BATE defender Aleksandar Filipovic.
The 85th-minute led Lacazette to be sent off, resulting in an automatic one-match ban.
Alexandre Lacazette suspension
Lacazette’s suspension meant he was immediately ruled out of the second leg of Arsenal’s tie against BATE.
However, that was not where it ended for the former Lyon striker as UEFA intervened.
The European governing body handed Lacazette a further two-game ban due to the severity of the altercation.
And that meant he is unavailable for both legs of the round of 16 tie against Rennes.
Emery is 'smart' with Aubameyang and Lacazette says Campbell
What Alexandre Lacazette said
Lacazette admitted he was in the wrong after being sent off against BATE.
"Letting the team down like that is the worst feeling.." Lacazette wrote on Twitter.
"I should have stayed calm but it’s not always easy.. Sorry.
"There are still 90 minutes to play and I believe that my teammates will make it to the next round.."