Ray Parlour backs Alexandre Lacazette to keep place in Arsenal side

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Ray Parlour has told talkSPORT that he would continue to pick Alexandre Lacazette up front for Arsenal despite the Frenchman enduring a really poor run of form in front of goal.

The Gunners have squandered their advantage in the race to finish in the top-four in the Premier League after a nightmare week for Mikel Arteta’s men. They suffered defeats against Crystal Palace and Brighton.

Several of their players have struggled. And one of those who has come in for criticism is Lacazette.

The 30-year-old has been lauded at times this term. He shone in the weeks after taking the captain’s armband. And no player in the Arsenal squad has provided a greater number of assists than Lacazette.

However, he is now on a run of one goal in his last 11 games. And his all-round play has not been anywhere near as impressive.

And with Eddie Nketiah impressing in his last couple of cameos, some may be hoping that Mikel Arteta makes a change as the Gunners look to get their top-four push back on track.

But Parlour has suggested that Lacazette still gets the nod for him.

“I think you’ve got to go with Lacazette still. He just needs a goal from somewhere. It might happen. But they’ve got Chelsea coming up, they’ve got some big, big games coming up,” he told talkSPORT.

Arsenal may need to consider left-field option as Alexandre Lacazette struggles

Parlour has backed Lacazette. However, his comments are not the most convincing. And that highlights how underwhelming Arteta’s options appear to be.

It would be a gamble, but perhaps Gabriel Martinelli would be the man to try. He knows how to play up front. And he has been outstanding at times this season.

That would also free up space for Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe to both play in that trio behind the forward.

Certainly, Lacazette’s run of form surely cannot go on much longer if he wants to stay in the team.