Arsenal Coach Emery Explains Why Lacazette Was Not Taken Off For Iwobi Just Before First Goal

Published: September 23, 2018

Arsenal coach Unai Emery was quizzed by the reporters at the post-match press conference over his decision not to introduce Alex Iwobi just before Alexandre Lacazette opened the scoring in the 56th minute in their 2-0 win against Everton at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners had taken the lead against the run of play, with the France international having a poor game and the knowledgeable commentators had suggested that he was going to be replaced by Iwobi, only for Emery to change his mind.

Three minutes after Lacazette's second Premier League goal of the season, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made it 2-0, albeit in controversial circumstances as television replays clearly showed the Gabonese to be offside in the build-up to the goal.

On whether he was about to make a sub before the first goal, Emery was quoted as saying by arsenal.com : ''Yes. We needed to change something in this moment to give us another individual quality on the pitch.

''Then we scored the goal and I decided to stop it and think again about who we need next.''

Asked if Lacazette would have come off, the Spaniard said : ''I don’t think it’s important, but maybe yes! Football is like that.''

Iwobi eventually replaced Aubameyang in the 68th minute for his third Premier League appearance of the season.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : arsenal.com