Arsenal legend Ian Wright has urged supporters to be patient with Alexandre Lacazette during his goalscoring drought, identifying the importance he has to the club's attacking play.
Lacazette is without a goal in his last seven appearances in all competitions and that record has been drawn into greater scrutiny due to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's three-match suspension.
The France international's last goal for Arsenal was in the final Europa League group-stage match against Standard Liege, with his last in the Premier League coming against Brighton at the start of December.
While Wright admits Lacazette's form in front of goal is a concern, he believes that his role in Arsenal's attack goes beyond his goalscoring tally and stated he is the only man who can perform in his role.
"It's a worry, when you consider what he does bring to the team, he's literally the only striker at the club who can play the way he does with his back to goal but you can see at the moment that he doesn't look like he is going to score," he told BBC Radio 5Live.
"His away goalscoring record is a little bit of a worry and then you add into that the fact he's on a poor scoring run, you're hoping he can get one because what he is contributing to the team, keeping them in that third of the team and linking play, is brilliant but you do need goals.
"Pepe, yes you need more from him in terms of goals because I think his form in taking players on now, he's getting much better, and I think we're going to see more from Reiss Nelson, Arteta has a lot of faith in him.
"I hope we're going to see more from Martinelli. I think that he's got to come from the left. Can Eddie Nketiah come in and play with his back to goal? We're hoping so as he's been called back from loan and he's been impressive in training, hopefully he sees enough from him and gives him a go.
"But he came on against [Sheffield United] and I wouldn't say it passed him by but he didn't get into the same that you'd want to see him link-up play, so he's going to need some more time.
"Martinelli, as someone who is going to chip in with more goals, you can absolutely see it. His movement, his enthusiasm, he gets into the box with real intent and that's what I think is troubling Arsenal, is finishing off moves and finishing off games.
"Arteta has solidified the team, they're not so easy to get into the defence and there's a lot more protection, you just hope they can get better moving forwards.
"You do need patience with Lacazette but with Aubameyang missing for another couple of games, the fans are saying we need goals from him, it's a bit unfair, they're totally dismissive what he does in holding the ball up for the team and attack teams.
"He himself will want to score because it will get his confidence going but I think they should have a bit more patience with him for what he does. We need him to be confident, he's going through a hard time in front of goal."
Arsenal travel across London to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Tuesday evening, before a trip to the South Coast to play Bournemouth in the FA Cup fourth round.
