‘Lacazette is a better all-round striker than Aubameyang’, says Darren Bent who urges Arsenal to cash in on club captain this summer
Arsenal fan Darren Bent has urged the club to cash in on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and stick with Alexandre Lacazette as their main striker, claiming the Frenchman is a ‘better all-round centre-forward’.
Club captain Aubameyang has looked out of sorts in the two games since the Gunners’ return to Premier League action – defeats to Manchester City and Brighton.
The Gabon star could be distracted by the speculation over his future at the club, amid claims he will not pen a new contract and may leave for free when his deal expires at the end of next season.
Regardless, he was barely noticeable in either of those games and that has only piled more pressure on him, as it appears his Gunners spell could be nearing its conclusion.
Aubameyang won last season’s Golden Boot in a three-way tie with Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, and is second in the top-flight’s scoring table this term with 17 goals so far.
However, he was deployed in a wider position by manager Mikel Arteta against City and Brighton and his frustration on the pitch was clear to see.
Lacazette returned to the starting line-up at the Amex, having only been introduced at the Etihad during the second half.
And even though he had a quiet game too, Bent believes the Gunners would be better off with him leading the line and getting a good price for Aubameyang in the transfer market.
Speaking on Monday’s talkSPORT Breakfast, the former Premier League striker said: “I like Lacazette; I don’t think he’s been getting as much game time as he should, but then how do you get him in the team?
“Do you play him down the middle and put Aubamyeang out on the left? Well, Aubameyang at the minute doesn’t look like he wants to play on that left wing, he’s not getting the opportunities and he’s getting more and more frustrated.
“He won the Golden Boot last season but now he’s had to sacrifice part of his game by playing on the left…
“I think Lacazette on the whole, in terms of his all-round forward play and bringing others into the game, I think he’s better than Aubameyang,
“He doesn’t score as many goals, but as an all-round centre-forward he’s better.”
Last week, talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham backed Arsenal to cash in on Aubameyang, with the Drive host insisting the Gunners already have players good enough to replace him.
And Bent agrees, saying the captain’s attitude in recent games shows he no longer wants to be at the club.
“With the Aubameyang situation - he’s in the team, he’s not playing well and they’re losing games… I would try and cash in on him,” added the boyhood Gooner.
“If he’s not prepared to commit his long-term future to the club that means part of his concentration, part of his attitude towards the club is not going to be there, he’s not going to be 100 per cent focused.
“So you might as well cash in on him now and try and move forward with some of these youngsters.
“They’re not going to get in the top four this season, so you might as well use the rest of this season as a process to identify the players you want to keep, and the young players you believe are good enough to step up.”