Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Arsenal have Alexandre Lacazette problem likely to prompt Aubameyang role change
Arsenal succumbed to a 1-0 home defeat by Leicester City on Sunday night a the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reacts to 1-0 loss to Leicester
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has a problem on his hands in regards to Alexandre Lacazette form. The Gunners boss is a big fan of the Frenchman and campaigned to keep him at the club earlier this summer. Despite that, his stagnation suggests he may be past his best which could see Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang return through the middle as a striker.
Lacazette has less than two years remaining on his current contract but Arteta did not consider letting him leave in the transfer window.
Atletico Madrid were interested in the player while Juventus held talks with his agent in London over a potential deal.
The former Lyon man was never set on leaving though but Arsenal could have a decision to make next summer, as they look to avoid losing the player on a free transfer in 2022.
Nonetheless, his future has taken a backseat for now but his performances remain an issue for the Gunners.
JUST IN: Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer already has new captain in mind
He simply does not seem to be the sort of striker he was a couple of years ago under Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery.
Lacazette looks like he has lost half a yard of pace, while he is also lacking sharpness around the box.
Arteta plays him through the middle as the link man and his hold up play remains a huge strength for the Gunners.
While he started the season in goalscoring form, he has now fired blank in his last four matches.
DON'T MISS
Man Utd boss Solskjaer's ruthless streak leaves brave Sir Alex Ferguson prediction exposed
What Virgil van Dijk has told Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp after injury diagnosis
Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may change formation permanently due to two players
In the Premier League, Aubameyang has failed to find the net in his past five games since the opening day of the season win at Fulham.
Given that he is currently being played out of position to accommodate Lacazette, it seems only a matter of time before the Arsenal captain is moved back into a central role.
Aubameyang has hit 22 Premier League goals in both of his past two Premier League seasons and he is still Arsenal's main man after committing his future to the club.
At the moment, they are in need of goals and the current system is not getting the best from the Arsenal attack and it appears a change is imminent.
Nicolas Pepe has played his way into form but he found himself back on the bench against the Foxes.
Willian missed the match through injury but he is expected to returning to the starting XI upon return to full fitness.
Arteta moved away from the 3-4-3 system he has favoured in recent months in favour of a 4-3-3 against Leicester.
It did not bring Arsenal joy though but the arrival of Thomas Partey appears to have given Arteta more tactical flexibility.
Aubameyang will be desperate to move back into a central role in order to rediscover his goalscoring form and Lacazette's form suggests the tweak is imminent.