Merson advises Arteta to ax £46m Arsenal star

Paul Merson has suggested Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could drop Alexandre Lacazette against Southampton tomorrow afternoon.

The Gunners have a massive visit from the Saints at Emirates Stadium.

Arteta’s side have lost their last two Premier League games and now Tottenham are favorites to reach the last qualifying spot for the Champions League.

Arsenal could be six points behind fourth-placed Spurs ahead of the kick-off against Southampton, with their north London rivals hosting Brighton in the early afternoon.

Lacazette has struggled in each of the Gunners’ last two Premier League defeats and has scored just two goals from open play this season.

And Merson has hinted the France international could be dropped but backs Arteta to get his troops back on track.

He said Sportkeeda: “Arsenal could count on a chance of winning here. Alexandre Lacazette couldn’t score and I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t play that game. Southampton won’t sit back and defend this week and I think that could play into Arsenal’s hands.

Lacazette could be absent but it could be a forced move from the Arsenal manager.

The former hitman of Lyon, a £46m signing in 2017was not spotted in training this week so it looks likely that a knock of some sort is jeopardizing his chances of playing tomorrow, not his form.

In other news, Watch: £33m sensation eyed by Tottenham and Liverpool scores wonderful hat-trick