Lacazette could be like Luis Suarez at Barca, says Puel

His former boss says the Arsenal man would do well at the Camp Nou

Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette is one of several attackers who have been linked with a move to Barcelona, and his former boss Claude Puel reckons he’d be a hit at the Camp Nou.

Puel managed Lacazette during their time together at Lyon, before Lacazette joined Arsenal, and has given his view on the striker potentially moving to the Spanish champions.

“Lacazette could be a player like Luis Suarez. He can come back to midfield to play a bit and ask for the ball in space. For me he could do very, very well at Barcelona.

“With Guardiola Barca played 80 per cent of the ball in the opposition half. Now they play in a low block. When you’re so far back you need a forward who can bear the ball to allow the team to advance, Suarez loses it continuously.

“That’s where the problem is. Barca don’t have players with those attributes, to sit back and defend in their half. Players like Alba and Busquets are good for defending in the opposition half but can’t get the ball back if the team’s stuck deep. If you want to play technical football you need technical players.”

Source | Sport

Lacazette has formed a strong partnership with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal, and racked up 19 goals and 10 assists for the Gunners in all competitions this season.

He spoke about his future ahead of Wednesday’s Europa League final defeat to Chelsea and said he would stay if he and the club were both happy.

“For me, I just think about the final, then after we will see with the club. If the club is really happy with me and I’m happy, I will stay.

“In France, they say 27, 28 is one of the best ages in your career. I wish it is not the last [good season] at Arsenal and I hope I will be better and better in the next years.”

Source | Evening Standard

Arsenal’s defeat to Chelsea means the Gunners missed out on qualification for the Champions League and could leave them vulnerable to bids for their top players.

Source: barcablaugranes.com