Aubameyang’s arrival has knocked Lacazette, concedes Arsenal boss

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger accepts Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s club-record arrival may have knocked Alexandre Lacazette confidence.

The Gunners made Lacazette the most expensive player in the club’s history in the summer after signing the France international from Lyon in a deal worth £46.5m.

However, Arsenal eclipsed that fee when they signed Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for £54m at the end of last month and now Lacazette has dropped down the pecking order.

Wenger has thrown Aubameyang straight into the deep end since his arrival rather than integrate him slowly and the Arsenal manager has conceded that has knocked Lacazette’s confidence.

“Certainly,” The Daily Telegraph quote Wenger as responding when quizzed whether that was the case. “He has gone through difficult periods before. It can happen – it is a fraction of a second.

“Maybe the confidence is not at its highest because he has seen a competitor in for him. He created two chances – and that is a quality as well.”

Lacazette is expected to start in the first leg of Arsenal’s Europa League knockout match against Swedish side Oestersunds FK with Aubameyang ineligible for the Gunners.

However, the 26-year-old has only scored one goal in his last 13 appearances in all competitions. The Arsenal No.9 has found it particularly difficult away from home, last netting on the road at the start of November (vs Manchester City).