‘Lacazette was not himself in early Arsenal career’ – Wenger expects striker to hit top form

Arsene Wenger expects Alexandre Lacazette to find form in the final weeks of the season after recovering from a knee injury.

The Arsenal striker returned to action in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Stoke City, having been sidelined since February following knee surgery, and marked his return by scoring a late penalty.

That was just his 10th goal in 30 matches for the north London outfit having joined in a club-record £46.5 million deal from Lyon in the summer.

The France international is poised to make his first appearance of the season in the Europa League against CSKA Moscow on Thursday, with record signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ineligible.

And Wenger believes Gunners fans will see the best of Lacazette in the coming games now he is free of his knee troubles.

“I think so because I realise now when I see him in training that he was not himself for a while,” said the Arsenal manager.

“It was not dramatically different before. He was a good player. But I think in the last seven or eight games he played, he was not completely free with his knee.

“Unfortunately, in our job you need your body and when you are not 100 per cent you cannot play well.

“It’s good to have him back because it gives us different opportunities. Danny [Welbeck] is more a guy who goes behind, whereas Lacazette is more combination play, so to have both options is important.”