Alexandre Lacazette’s agent speaks out after Arsenal star is dropped at Manchester City

The agent of Alexandre Lacazette has spoken out following Arsene Wenger’s decision to drop the striker for Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat at Manchester City.

Arsenal completed a club-record £52million move for Lacazette in the summer and the 26-year-old forward has impressed in his early performances, scoring six goals in 12 appearances for the north London giants.

However, the Frenchman was dropped for two of Arsenal’s big away matches this season – versus Liverpool and City – and his representative, David Venditelli, has had his say.

Speaking to SFR Sport, Venditelli insisted: ‘It’s not worrying, because he played at Chelsea.

‘Our way of working is to relativise things: 11 matches, nine starts. Of course, it’s not nice to see that he didn’t start that match, but it was – as Arsene Wenger explained – for tactical reasons.

‘He’s learning. Alex needs to have calm around him. He’s happy, and Arsenal are too with his work.

‘It’s not because a player doesn’t play, even though it’s two important games of course. He would have preferred to have played them.’

Alan Shearer believes Lacazette should confront Wenger over being dropped at the Etihad but Venditelli disagrees.

He said: ‘When you’re outside the club, I can understand the questions.

‘I understand, but I think Alex isn’t complaining about his playing time, even if he would prefer to start games like those against City or Liverpool.

‘But he talks to the manager, the staff — there’s no problem. Afterwards, there’s a choice made.

You can’t, every time your player doesn’t play, even if it’s Alexandre Lacazette, knock on the door or pick up the phone and talk to the manager.

‘No, no, it’s not time yet. Everything is fine.’

MORE : Mesut Ozil demands Jack Wilshere’s no10 shirt to sign new Arsenal deal