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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Samuel Meade

Ian Wright criticises Alexandre Lacazette despite vital role in Arsenal winner

Alexandre Lacazette has been criticised by Ian Wright for dropping too deep in the Arsenal attack, which is hampering their forward play, despite helping them see off Wolves on Thursday night.

Former Gunners forward Wright wants to see the Frenchman being the central point of attack with goals still a problem for the team.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left last month which has seen Lacazette become the club's leader in attack.

Lacazette was crucial in Arsenal's stoppage time winner against Wolves, but Wright still wants more from him.

He has scored just five times this term, but is trying to combine linking play with upping his goal tally.

Will Arsenal finish in the top four? Have your say in the comments!

"Ben White and Gabriel, the partnership is starting to work very well, like Partey and Xhaka," Wright told Premier League Productions.

"We just need a little bit more going forward. Odegaard, for me, is the glue for everything. We need more goals, we definitely need more goals.

"I’d like to see more goals from someone like Lacazette. I think some of the time he’s coming way too deep. We need a focal point because we’ve got players who can run off of him.

"I’d like him to stay up there a little bit more, we know he has to link but stay up there a little bit more, give us someone to hit."

Lacazette's contract is up in the summer and, currently, no talks have been held regarding an extension at the Emirates.

Eddie Nketiah too will be free to leave in a matter of months which is set to leave the Gunners light in attack.

They spent much of January being linked with Serbian Dusan Vlahovic before the forward opted for a switch to Juventus.

Mikel Arteta however is confident that Lacazette is playing like someone who has his sights on an extended stay at Arsenal.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen at the end of the season,” he said. “We don’t have contracts that run for 20 years, it’s part of our job.

The Gunners forward has been urged to be more effective in front of goal (Getty Images)

"He behaves like someone who wants to stay with us. I can only praise him and try to help him as much as possible. For me it’s Lacazette’s goal.”

The win bolsters Arsenal's chances of making the top four for the first time since Arsene Wenger left the club.

Nicolas Pepe had notched the equaliser at the Emirates before Lacazette's stoppage time winner.

“I said to them at half-time that if you want to be top in May we’re going to have to overcome results three or four times to be there,” Arteta added. “The spirit and energy that the players put in in the second half was phenomenal.”

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