Per Mertesacker: 'I was delighted for Alexandre Lacazette'

By Jonny Whitfield, Reporter | 11 April 2018

Mertesacker: 'I was delighted for Lacazette'

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker says that he was "delighted" to see teammate Alexandre Lacazette get on the scoresheet after returning from injury.

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has said that he was "delighted" to see teammate Alexandre Lacazette get on the scoresheet after returning from injury.

French striker Lacazette, who recently recovered from knee surgery, netted in the Gunners' 3-0 win over Stoke City before firing a brace in the club's Europa League win over CSKA Moscow last week.

Mertesacker, speaking to the Evening Standard, said that Lacazette is deserving of the goals after his watching his teammate work hard to regain fitness.

"I was delighted for Alexandre Lacazette to score another two goals [against CSKA] because I witnessed how hard he worked when he was injured," the German said.

"Laca is one of many players who can make the difference for us. If you get the ball to him in the box, you know that he has the ability to score from anywhere.

"That's a strength we must identify and take advantage of. Laca really deserves these goals – he's rewarding himself and all of us for his hard work. I'm really pleased because he's a true team player."

Arsenal travel to Russia for the return leg of the quarter-final tie on Thursday.