Mikel Arteta hints at alternative role for Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette

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Mikel Arteta has suggested Alexandre Lacazette has the capacity to play a little bit deeper for Arsenal than his usual number nine position.

The Frenchman has dropped out of the starting XI in recent matches, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang moving into a more central position.

But the change is not having the desired impact, and Arsenal are struggling to create chances and score goals.

Fans have been discussing who could be the solution to the problem, and very few have suggested the idea of Lacazette featuring in a deeper role to pull the strings.

But it’s an idea Arteta floated at his press conference yesterday.

He said (club’s official website): “We wanted to play our team so we had two strikers. A way to do it with the qualities of Eddie and Laca was to drop Laca a little bit [deeper] in some situations. It’s something he’s very comfortable doing, while Eddie’s more of a pure No 9. It’s something we can use as well in the present and the future.”

It remains to be seen if Arteta will seek to start £52 million star Lacazette (BBC Sport) as a second striker playing off the shoulder of Aubameyang.

TBR’s View – Worth a try for Arteta

At the moment, Arsenal are really struggling in the final third and Aubameyang has been starved of chances.

The pair have previously shown they have a good connection, so Lacazette operating a bit deeper than the Gabon star might bring some success.

It’s a tactic that has been working very well for Tottenham Hotspur with Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, so perhaps the Gunners could seek to replicate that.