“You cannot do anything” Mikel Arteta told of a regular starter player who has let him down this season

“You cannot do anything” Mikel Arteta told of a regular starter player who has let him down this season

Tony Cascarino, an alkSPORT analyst, feels Mikel Arteta will have to settle Arsenal’s striker dilemma in the summer, with goals becoming difficult to come by.

Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal’s captain, has four Premier League goals this season, and no Arsenal player has yet to reach double figures in goals scored.

Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe both have nine, with Martin Odegaard trailing the England internationals with six.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left Arsenal in January to join Barcelona, and the former captain has the same number of Premier League goals as Lacazette this season.

Tottenham have jumped ahead of Arteta’s team in the hunt for the crucial fourth Champions League position following back-to-back defeats against Crystal Palace and Brighton.

With an out-of-sorts Lacazette flailing in front of goal, Cascarino believes Arsenal will face an uphill battle to unseat Spurs.

Cascarino said: “Laczaette is probably the lowest scoring centre forward. He’s got four Premier League goals this season.

“Obviously he’s been in and out the team at times, but he’s played 25 games in the Premier League now and he’s got four goals.

“Lacazette is an issue. His contract is up in the summer and that’s an area they (Arsenal) they need to fill.

“You cannot do anything in football having a centre-forward that’s got, four, five or six goals in a season.”

With Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah’s contracts expiring at the end of June and Aubameyang thriving in La Liga, Arteta is looking for a profile striker.

However, giving Champions League football as an enticement could be critical in Arteta obtaining his targeted transfer targets.

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“You cannot do anything” Mikel Arteta told of a regular starter player who has let him down this season