Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that Alexandre Lacazette’s injury could have been affecting his form for some time, following discovery of swelling on his knee.
The French striker started the season well despite the manager opting to limit his minutes as he adapted to the Premier League, but lost form from around December.
His drop in form appeared to have led to his club to delve into the transfer market, investing a new club record fee into buying Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund, but we have since come across swelling on Lacazette’s knee, and he is expected to be ruled out for up to five weeks.
Wenger has now claimed that the swelling could have been there for some time, and that could have been a telling factor in his struggles in recent months.
“He got a surprising swell of the knee after the game against Tottenham and needed surgery, very quick surgery, and he will be out for the next four or five weeks,” Wenger said. “It’s a massive blow for us, but we have to find a solution.
“Nobody could predict that, but football is as well to do with unpredicted things and it’s always a good opportunity to find someone who steps in and does well.
“Lacazette is down, but I think he recently must’ve felt something in his knee, I don’t know. Maybe as well that’s an explanation why he was not scoring as many goals as he’s used to.”
Is Wenger clutching at straws by claiming Lacazette’s injury could have been the problem? Could we potentially have two top strikers when he is fit?
Pat J