It seems as if every single pundit out there has judged the Arsenal manager’s decision to drop Alexandre Lacazette, but is that simply because it is easy to jump on the narrative?
Ray Wilkins is the latest person to give his opinion on the decision, although he rightly states that the French boss should have a much better understanding of his options, but continues to judge the decision.
Travelling to Manchester City is the toughest task at hand at present, with the side having won every match in all competitions since drawing with Everton on the first week of the campaign, and no side can go to the Etihad at present and expect a win.
Despite such a huge task, Arsene Wenger set up his side to give Arsenal a chance, and having saved his creative and goalscoring threats for the second half, looked the much bigger threat following the half-time break. His side will feel hard done-by after the result, but his decisions may well have given him his best chance of landing a shock result.
Ray Wilkins gives his opinion that Wenger was wrong with his decision to bench Lacazette however.
He said: “Personally I would say yes (he got it wrong) but Arsene Wenger knows his players far better than I do.
“Lacazette, for example, you buy him for, I don’t know what it was, £55million for the big games.
“When he brought him on, he scores, because he is a goalscorer, but all of a sudden, he’s on the bench. I don’t quite understand.
“When you’re going to Manchester City, it’s proven that to actually get a point, you need to score a goal.
“They score so many goals, especially at home, so you need one to actually get a point.
“Therefore, you’re leaving £55million on the bench, (Olivier) Giroud’s also on the bench, so you’re limiting your chances of getting that point before you even kick off.
“Do you put City under pressure?
“I would say yes, go for City, make it uncomfortable, for City.”
Did Wenger take a risk in dropping Lacazette to the bench? Did the Gunners manager set his team up to slow City down for the opening half before unleashing his attacking threat in the second half? Does he deserve the criticisms this time?
Pat J