Arsenal head coach Unai Emery should stick to the winning formula of his last match and play Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the start, says Phil Neville.
After being a substitute in Arsenal's first three fixtures, Lacazette started the 3-2 win at Cardiff City, with Aubameyang moving to the left. Lacazette scored one goal and set up another for his strike partner.
Neville, a former player for Manchester United and Everton, believes fielding Lacazette and Aubameyang from kick-off for Saturday's trip to Newcastle United will aid Emery's hopes of a third consecutive victory.
"They score more goals, they have better movement," Neville says in the video above. "Defenders don't like playing against him [Lacazette] because of his little sharp, darting movements."
"Arsenal are a better side with him. They look better going forward.
"It's just a question of how long Aubameyang can sacrifice himself or be happy on the left-hand side."
Neville's argument that the Gunners attack is more dangerous when Lacazette starts is backed up by statistics.
Arsenal average 2.2 goals a match with Lacazette from kick-off, compared with 1.5 when he does not start.
Their average points won also increase with the Frenchman in the first XI, from 1.1 to 2.0.
Arsenal in PL 2017/18 to present
| Lacazette starting | Lacazette not starting | |
|---|---|---|
| Played | 27 | 15 |
| Won | 16 | 5 |
| Drawn | 5 | 1 |
| Lost | 6 | 9 |
| Goals for | 59 | 23 |
| Goals/match | 2.2 | 1.5 |
| Win % | 59.3 | 33.3 |
| Points/match | 2.0 | 1.1 |