Lacazette faces lengthy injury lay-off to leave Arsenal short in attack
Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette has had an operation on his left knee and will be out for up to six weeks.
The 26-year-old had an arthroscopy in London on yesterday morning and the procedure was described as a “success” by the Gunners.
A statement on the club’s website read: “The minor procedure was a success and he will now undergo a period of rehabilitation.
“It is envisaged that he will return to the squad within four to six weeks.”
The France international has often cut a frustrated figure since his £52 million move from Lyon in the summer.
Lacazette has scored nine goals in 29 appearances for the Gunners this term, but has just one from his last 13 outings in all competitions.
Pierre-emerick Aubameyang’s arrival from Borussia Dortmund last month has raised further doubts over Lacazette’s role under manager Arsene Wenger.
Aubameyang is ineligible to play in the Europa League, though, leaving Arsenal short of options in attack for the first leg of the knockout tie with Ostersunds in Sweden tomorrow night.
Lacazette will also miss the second leg a week later, as well as the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City on 25 February and key Premier League fixtures.
With Arsenal seemingly losing out in the battle to finish in the top four in the Premier League – the London club are in sixth place, seven points from the Champions League places – the Europa League should take on added significance for Wenger.
“I’m not a great fan of the Europa League being a qualifier of the Champions League,” said the Frenchman. But he might want to follow the example of his great rival, Jose Mourinho, who changed his negative view of the Europa League after a 2-0 victory over Ajax in the final last year saved his first season at Manchester United.
Wenger, whose side are the only English club remaining in the competition, is wary of Ostersund ahead of this week’s first leg.
“Looking at their results in Europe, they have done well so we have to prepare properly,” Wenger said about the club led by English manager Graham Potter, a former Football League defender.
It will be interesting to see if Wenger sticks to his habit of fielding a reserve team for the Europa League matches. What proved effective in the group stage might not be enough in the knockout rounds.
He’ll certainly have to make changes up front after his two regular strikers in the group stage, Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott, left the Emirates for Chelsea and Everton, respectively.