Arsenal have parted ways with Aubameyang in January and according to Gunners legend Alan Smith, it’s time for Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette to rise to the occasion.
Auba has joined FC Barcelona as a free agent meaning the likes of Nketiah and Lacazette are going to get a lot more game time during the second half of the season. Nketiah has played in only four Premier League games this season but as per Smith, the youngster will now move up the pecking order.
Smith told Sky Sports: “It should be a chance for Eddie Nketiah. You would imagine he will get more opportunities now than he did previously.
“We will wait and see. It does not seem to me Arteta is at all convinced by him as a starter. He’s done well in the Carabao Cup and has scored goals, but that’s come mainly against clubs in the lower divisions.
“When he has had the chance from the start in the Premier League, he’s not really convinced that he is somebody that can lead the line.”
Lacazette is set to be a free agent at the end of this season but right now, he’s the first-choice centre-forward at Arsenal and Alan Smith believes the Frenchman will need to take over the goalscoring duties.
Smith added: “He has been in decent form and he has taken on the responsibility as one of the senior members of the team. He has been a really useful asset in the starting XI, despite a few glaring misses here and there.
The end of this iconic celebration 😢@Auba 🤝 @LacazetteAlex pic.twitter.com/lRtSjLOCra
— Arsenal Inside (@arsenalinside_) February 1, 2022
“What’s going to happen regarding his future in the summer is also up in the air. It’s another conundrum for the club, but I am sure they are looking at another couple of strikers elsewhere, especially in the event that Lacazette does leave the club.
“But before that, he will be an important figure between now and the end of the season as the most recognised centre-forward in the squad.”
Can Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah rise up to the occasion?
Alexandre Lacazette is set to become a free agent at the end of this season and so far, he’s netted only three goals in 16 Premier League games.
The Gunners have no plans to offer the Frenchman a new deal so there’s no way Lacazette will be playing to win a new deal. Lyon are already in contact with him and if he has made up his mind to join them next season then his performances during the second half of the season could be seriously impacted.
Nketiah, on the other hand, has been down the pecking order and he too is likely to move out in the summer. Since Arsenal are not playing in Europe or in any other cup competition, chances are going to be really limited so we don’t think the 22-year-old will achieve anything miraculous in the next few months.
