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Football London
Football London
Sport
Lewis Pangratiou

Arsenal legends agree on 'perfect' Alexandre Lacazette replacement as Mikel Arteta eyes striker

Arsenal legend Perry Groves has encouraged his former side to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the summer.

Since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's departure from the Gunners squad, Alexandre Lacazette has become Arsenal's foremost leader and is their most experienced forward.

As his contract expires in June, the club are yet to decide on whether they should try to extend the 30-year-old's deal beyond this current season.

Eddie Nketiah faces the same predicament, meaning Arsenal could lose three forwards in just six months.

They will understandably be planning replacements, and Groves believes that Calvert-Lewin is the right man to take Arsenal forward.

“I don’t think they are going to re-sign Alexandre Lacazette. I am a big fan of Lacazette, the quality he brings players in around him with the physicality,” he told the Daily Star, as cited by football365.

“Obviously his goalscoring output has dropped substantially over the last 18 months but the money and the wages he is on, I don’t think they will renew for that sort of money.

“I would bring in someone like [Dominic] Calvert-Lewin. I think he would fit in perfectly, his attitude is good, taught by Carlo Ancelotti and off the ball he can close down and press.”

Groves isn't the only former Arsenal star who's an admirer of the Everton striker, however, as Paul Merson also thinks that Calvert-Lewin is the ideal forward replacement.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin continues to be linked with a move to Arsenal. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Writing in his column for the Daily Star last month, the former Gunner said: "Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a perfect fit for Arsenal and they should break the bank to sign him next summer.

"Arsenal need a world class centre-forward. They've just saved £25m in wages getting rid of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

"And they tried to spend big on Dusan Vlahovic so we know the money is there. They should be talking to Everton about Calvert-Lewin already.

"Calvert-Lewin is young and hungry. He will be England's first choice No 9 in years to come. He holds the ball up very well and he works his socks off up front.

"I've seen some centre-forwards in my time and he works as hard as any of them. Plus he's good in the air and he scores goals. I'd be doing that deal now!"

Calvert-Lewin has struggled with injuries this season but has proven that he's capable of finding the net in the Premier League.

Technical director Edu ultimately has some big decisions to make in the coming months as he looks to help Mikel Arteta shape an even more competitive Arsenal line-up.

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