Expert baffled by Mikel Arteta ‘smoke and mirrors’ as Arsenal backtrack over Alexandre Lacazette
It is “strange” that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta did not immediately offer clarity on Alexandre Lacazette’s recent bout of Covid.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis.
Lacazette, 30, missed the Gunners’ 1-0 defeat to Southampton last Saturday (16 April).
Per club media on the eve of the match, Arteta said the Frenchman was absent because of “private reasons that I cannot comment on.”
This sparked speculation about the future of the soon-to-be out-of-contract striker, who recently confirmed he is speaking to a number of clubs.
But Arsenal tweeted the following day to clarify that Lacazette had in fact tested positive for Covid.
Dinnery admitted that he was puzzled that Arteta did not disclose the details of the senior man’s condition and forced the club to backtrack.
“Clubs have been guarded with regards to Covid disclosure,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“This wasn’t with regards to any change in guidance. It was more about managers trying to second guess their opponents.
“There is a lot of smoke and mirrors and gamesmanship going on. Arteta has rarely confirmed something before the club or the player has done.
“I don’t really see the rationale behind this route. With the speculation about his future, why not just be transparent?
“The only other factor would be if Lacazette had said they didn’t want to announce it at that exact moment.”
Lacazette has registered six goals and eight assists in 32 appearances this term.
He returned to action as a late substitute in last night’s (20 April) 4-2 win at Chelsea.
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