Interview

Wenger - How I see Auba and Laca playing together

When Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang handed Alexandre Lacazette the chance to score our second penalty against Stoke City, it was a sight to warm Arsene Wenger's heart.

Afterwards the Arsenal manager praised the "generosity" shown by the Gabon forward, and discussed how the two forwards can play together.

This is what he told the media:



on if Lacazette and Aubameyang can play together…

Yes, I think they can play together.

on Aubameyang passing up the penalty to Lacazette when he was on a hat-trick…

That shows well the state of our society, because when people are generous, we are surprised!

on us being surprised when footballers are generous…

As well, even more! And when it’s strikers, even more! No [I wasn’t surprised] because I know they have a good understanding. I like that because it can only make the team stronger. Lacazette came back from a long injury. I think it’s great. Would you have done it? I’m not sure! 

on how the two of them could play together…

Yeah, I think Aubameyang played a long part of his career on the left, at St Etienne, and in the first year at Dortmund [with Lewandowski], he played on the left. After, when Lewandowski moved to Bayern Munich, he played centrally. 

on whether Lacazette was 100 per cent fit…

He’s still lacking a bit of competitive edge. He’s been out for two months, he worked hard, but he still lacks a fraction maybe. In training, he looks sharp. How long can he last in a game? I don’t know. He certainly needs one or two more games.

on whether Lacazette could start on Thursday…

I don’t know. I will have to wait a little bit before making that decision.