IAN WRIGHT has urged Mikel Arteta to drop three senior stars in order to save Arsenal’s season.
The Gunners legends wants to see midfielder Granit Xhaka, striker Alexandre Lacazette and winger Willian nowhere near the team in the upcoming weeks, starting with Wednesday’s Premier League clash against Southampton.
Ian Wright has urged Mikel Arteta to cut three senior players from the Arsenal team, starting with Granit XhakaCredit: Guardian News & Media / Free to use by all titles in perpetuity under NMC agreement
Alexandre Lacazette has managed just three league goals this termCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Arsenal have had a dreadful opening 12 games, winning just four and losing seven.
They’ve only mustered ten goals too, ranking amongst the lowest in the league.
But worse is the fact that Arteta hasn’t led his side to a Prem victory in the last five matches.
They’ve included defeats to Aston Villa, Wolves, Spurs and Burnley.
And Arsenal’s last win came via a penalty against Manchester United at the start of November.
Wright now believes the time has come to make some big calls in the team.
He wants to see Xhaka, Lacazette and Willian axed from the team.
And in their place should be Joe Willock, Eddie Nketiah and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Willian is yet to open his Arsenal account since a free transfer from ChelseaCredit: Rex Features
Xhaka, 28, was sent off in the defeat to Burnley and won’t be available for the Saints due to suspension.
However, Wright feels the time is right for the Swiss midfielder to have a lengthy spell on the sideline regardless.
Meanwhile, Lacazette, 29, has just three goals in the league this term while Willian, 32, is still waiting to open his account after a switch from rivals Chelsea.
Wright told Premier League Productions: “The manager has stuck with Xhaka for a while.
“He has shown a lot of faith in him. I think he has done the same with Willian, the same with Lacazette.
“I feel at this particular moment, he has had a lot of faith in them and they have kind of let him down up to this point.
“There are players now that should be getting a blast at it.
“Throw in Nketiah, Emile Smith Rowe coming back on loan and doing well at Huddersfield, Willock, Maitland-Niles.
“You need to do something different because if it carries on like this and he continues to have faith in these players, and they are not delivering, then I don’t know what’s going to happen next.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
