Lacazette hopes to finish season with a flourish

Alexandre Lacazette’s form has mirrored Arsenal’s disappointing season but the forward insists he is now ready to play a full role in the final weeks of a season he hopes can still have a successful ending.

Much was expected from the France international when he completed a £52 million ($73 million) move to the Emirates Stadium from Lyon before this season and a promising start produced eight goals by the start of December.

Since then, though, the 26-year-old has been affected by a knee injury that required surgery. He will, however, face Southampton today having scored three goals in his last two games, including two in the 4-1 midweek victory against CSKA Moscow in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final.

The meeting with Mark Hughes’s Southampton side has diminished in importance for Arsenal who lie sixth, 13 points off the top four and with no chance of qualifying for the Champions League via their Premier League position. “The surgery is in my past so now I can play 100 per cent,” the forward told the London Evening Standard. “It is really frustrating when you are not as good as you want to be. So now I am happy and everything is all right.”