LAC A £50M PUNT

I CAN see why people are asking serious questions about Arsenal’s decision to dump Olivier Giroud for Alexandre Lacazette.

Giroud is ahead of his rival in the pecking order for the France team, so why spend £50million for his back-up?

The answer is formations. Arsenal want to play energetic, swift-breaking attacking football, and Giroud doesn’t really fit the bill. He is great at holding the ball up, but he is not dynamic and it is hard for him to play up front on his own.

Lacazette (left) has more pace, more energy and looks a lot closer to what Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had in Thierry Henry.

But you know what? I am not convinced he will score as many goals as people think.

I am quite happy to be proved wrong, but, for me, scoring goals in the French league when you have been at one of their top clubs for your whole career is not the same as proving you can do it in the Premier League.

Maybe that is why he is not first pick for France. I am not entirely sure that Wenger is absolutely convinced either.

This smacks of a signing demanded by the fans. I AM so sad to have heard the news about Bradley Lowery and my heart goes out to his family. I have heard the Sunderland fans want a stand named after him, and that is a compassionate, wonderful response. Yet, I wonder if it would be even better for the club to put on a game in Bradley’s honour, before a capacity crowd.

The proceeds could go to a charity of his parents’ choice and the legacy of that brave, incredible young boy would be remembered in the best possible way.