Mikel Arteta Bangs Drum For Alexandre Lacazette’s Euro 2020 France Squad Inclusion

By The Editor
on 23rd March 2021

Mikel Arteta believes Alexandre Lacazette deserves a spot in Didier Deschamps’ squad…

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes Alexandre Lacazette has done more than enough to negotiate a return back to the France squad ahead of this summer’s European Championships, the Spaniard told beIN SPORTS France.

Lacazette produced a virtuoso performance against West Ham on Sunday, with his deflected effort and powerful header on either side of half-time securing us a 3-3 draw.

The 29-year-old has been rather inconsistent this season but is coming back to his best form and his link-up play in the final third has meshed well with the trio of playmakers Arteta deploys behind the striker.

Lacazette hasn’t been called up to the French national team for over three years with Didier Deschamps seemingly making his mind up on the forward’s capabilities.

In fairness to the former Monaco manager, he managed to guide Les Bleus to the ultimate prize in 2018 as they lifted the World Cup in Russia.

Olivier Giroud has been the preferred choice as the lone frontman and Deschamps has usually decided to fill the other spaces in the squad with wide forwards.

“He has quality and experience,” Arteta said when asked about Lacazette’s chances to make the squad.

“He’s a player with a good mentality, he works hard every day. He has the ambition to return to selection. I hope he will be present at the Euro.”

Lacazette might deserve a place on the plane in June, but his absence from the national team has benefited us throughout the season given the arduous schedule.

His long-term future at the club is also far from certain with the former Lyon man approaching the final year of his contract this summer.

It will certainly be an interesting close season.