has tested positive for Covid-19 and misses ’s Premier League match against Southampton on Saturday.
The French striker has been absent from training this week and Mikel Arteta has been forced to shuffle his pack ahead of a must-win clash at St Mary’s.
Lacazette, Arsenal’s stand-in captain, has struggled for goals of late and had found the back of the net from open play only once since December.
His overall contribution to the team, however, is highly valued by Arteta and his now a doubt for Arsenal’s visit to Stamford Bridge in midweek.
Arteta had hinted he was prepared to gamble and select Emile Smith Rowe in an unfamiliar false nine position for the first time since last season’s Europa League semi-final first leg.
The England international, however was relegated to the bench with Eddie Nketiah handed a rare Premier League start.
Nuno Tavares, meanwhile, was recalled to the starting line-up and will get another chance to impress at left-back in the absence of Kieran Tierney.
The Scotland international is set to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury but his understudy was taken out of the firing line last weekend following a calamitous display at Crystal Palace when he was substituted at half-time.
Taveres’ return means Granit Xhaka is restored to his customary midfield role, while Martin Odegaard captains the side.
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