NO WORRIES FOR EMERY

Arsenal boss confident his youngsters can deliver despite Lacazette’s absence

ALEXANDRE Lacazette will not play for Arsenal until next month due to an ongoing problem with his left ankle, the club have confirmed.

Lacazette had been playing with pain from the problem for several weeks and the France international has now been told to rest in the hope it will allow time for the problem to heal.

Lacazette’s absence will be a big blow for Arsenal manager Unai Emery during a hectic period

that includes Premier League games against Watford, Aston Villa and Manchester United, as well as the start of their Europa League and League Cup campaigns.

Emery, however, is more than happy to keep giving opportunities to the younger members of his squad.

Midfielder Joe Willock signed a new long-term contract with the Premier League club on Wednesday and he is one of many academy graduates to have featured under the Spaniard since he took charge last summer.

Forward Reiss Nelson, 19, is another to have earned a shot in the starting XI this season and Lacazette’s ankle injury should present Nelson with more chances, starting with today’s clash at Watford.

“It’s our philosophy and our idea to give them chances to be with us in training and taking confidence and playing minutes and if they achieve the performance we want, then continuing,” Emery said, when asked about his young players.

“They can take experience being with us, training with us, playing with us and also helping them with our experienced players and sharing with those players our way.”

He added: “Every player needs their first experience. For me it’s training with us every day, giving them chances to show us first their spirit, then their wish and after their performance.

“We can analyse our pre-season, a lot of young players deserved to be with us and we can help them to be with us and take more minutes in the Premier League, cups and Europa League matches.”

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will fill the central striker’s role in Lacazette’s absence, with the Gabon star having already scored three times this season.

While Lacazette is sidelined, Emery insists Arsenal’s clubrecord signing Nicolas Pepe will be ready to face Watford after confusion over his fitness during the international break.

The 23-year-old played against Tottenham before the Ivory Coast FA reported he had contacted them to say he had suffered an injury.

That claim was refuted by the Gunners and asked if Pepe was fit, Emery replied: “Yes, yes, he is training well and he is ready for Sunday.”

Arsenal are likely to come up against ex-player Danny Welbeck, who joined Watford on a free transfer last month after five seasons at the Emirates.

He was one of Javi Gracia’s final signings at Vicarage Road before he was sacked last weekend following a poor run of form and replaced by Quique Sanchez Flores.

Welbeck was one of 10 firstteamers to leave Arsenal permanently this summer, although defender Shkodran Mustafi did not depart.

Mustafi was expected to leave before the European transfer window shut on Sept 2, but decided to stay with the Gunners and Emery insists he is now firmly part of his plans moving forward.