FRUSTRATED, BUT FIRED UP

Lacazette unhappy on the bench but has been backed to bring energy & goals on his return Benteke urges Palace to get tough or see Vieira’s revolution fall apart

ARSENAL need to follow Alexandre Lacazette’s lead and get fired up this season.

That is the view of Albert Sambi Lokonga after Lacazette rescued a point for the Gunners with a late equaliser against Crystal Palace.

Lokonga says skipper Pierreemerick Aubameyang (below, celebrating) led from the front with his workrate to give Arsenal the lead.

But it took supersub Lacazette to heat things up off the bench after Palace went into a shock lead at the Emirates on Monday night.

Midfielder Lokonga, who came on at half time, said: “We have to bring this mentality that Lacazette did. He brought fire when he came on and that’s what we must do.”

Lacazette, who is in the final year of his contract, has yet to start a Premier League game this season after losing his place following a bout of Covid.

The French star, 30, said: “I wanted to bring a bit of energy. We know when the fans in the stadium are alive and with us, it makes it hard for the opponents.

“Maybe because of the way we were playing at that moment, they were a bit sleepy, so I wanted to just bring some energy that I know they like, and to change the game.

“It’s never easy to be on the bench, you always want to play and bring something to the team. This is what I tried to do.

“It’s my first time like this. I am just waiting my time. I work every day in training for this kind of moment when I can help the team.”

Team-mate Lokonga says Aubameyang’s desire to press and lead from the front has rubbed off on his team-mates this season.

The Belgian added: “He showed the way. Every time we need to fight like this. We saw how much he pressed, how much he gave for the team.”

But Lokonga, who made an error for

Palace’s second goal, admits the Gunners need to tighten up before they host Aston

Villa on Friday.

He said: “The goals are from two mistakes, one of them mine. It is an area where I cannot lose the ball.

“I want to play the next game as quick as possible. When you play a game like this, you are hungry inside because I made a mistake. I want to be able to change everything.”

CHRISTIAN BENTEKE says Crystal Palace are learning the hard way that Patrick Vieira’s revolution is at risk from a lack of killer instinct.

Palace were on course for a famous victory at Arsenal until they coughed up their second late equaliser in three games.

And goalscorer Benteke (left) reckons they must learn their lesson if they want to make the most of the progress made under their new manager.

Benteke said: “There is no excuse because now is not the first time where we are dropping points. We have to learn from our mistakes. We are learning in a hard way, I would say.

“We are playing the way the manager wants, with intensity. Playing football, but it is not enough. We have to be more ruthless, use our experience and stop conceding those late goals.”

Palace have not won since their 3-0 thrashing of Tottenham, but they have come close.

Neal Maupay robbed them of all three points with a 95thminute equaliser for Brighton and on Monday it was Alexandre Lacazette’s turn, at the same late, late stage at the Emirates.

Benteke said: “It’s another frustrating result for us because we didn’t start the way that we wanted. Arsenal put on a lot of pressure, they scored quickly. Second half, we were more aggressive.

“But this kind of game where you are leading, you can’t draw. We have to take three points.

“I can’t just say it’s concentration. There are a lot of emotions, there are a lot of things going on. We are tired. “We started slow, but we were controlling the game. Second half, we were more on the front foot. It’s a frustrating result.

“We had a great reaction in the second half – but it just wasn’t enough.”

Palace impressed on Monday night, despite being without star man Wilfried Zaha – an encouraging sign for the future under Vieira (left).

Benteke added: “In the end, it doesn’t matter if your big players are not there. We wanted to win against a big team.

“And now we’ve got a strong squad. We did well, but we can’t wait to have Wilf back.”