Alexandre Lacazette’s Arsenal career has been tainted by lingering injury, according to the manager, with the striker hoping to force his way into the side for the Europa League tie against CSKA Moscow.

Arsène Wenger believes Lacazette played through a knee problem for several weeks earlier in the season, affecting his performance. That problem has been corrected by surgery and Lacazette is fully fit but Wenger may yet choose to keep his former record signing on the bench once more in a quarter-final he believes is “50/50”.

Arsenal fans warned over Europa League ‘hot potato’ in Moscow Read more

“I think we are [ready to see the best of Lacazette] because I realise now that he was not himself for a while,” Wenger said. “That explains why his goals dried out. He was always adamant – ‘I’m OK, I’m OK’ – but players are like that.

“It was not traumatic, he was a good player but I think in the last seven, eight games he played he was not completely free with his knee. Unfortunately in our job you need your body and that’s why when you are not 100% you cannot play well.”

Wenger has been questioned previously over his approach to the French forward after dropping him from the starting XI in several fixtures, including the trip to Manchester City. Lacazette was also substituted regularly, a fact Wenger put down to the player being “a bit less sharp” than necessary.

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cup-tied, Lacazette will be competing with Danny Welbeck for the centre‑forward role against CSKA, with the first leg at home on Thursday night. “Lacazette is ready to start,” Wenger said. “I have not decided whether he will but he is available and ready to start.”

A substantial crowd is expected at the Emirates Stadium as Wenger hunts for his first European trophy since becoming Arsenal manager in 1996, a triumph that would also mean qualification for the Champions League. Against Stoke on Sunday there were empty seats across the 60,000-capacity ground. Wenger says his team now have to win back the fans through performances.

“I don’t think Arsenal has a support problem,” he said. “It’s just that our fans are disappointed that we don’t go for anything strong in the Premier League. The target for us is not to count the fans in the stand. Our target is to focus on our performance, win the games and accept the public judgment. It’s as simple as that.”

CSKA arrive in good form, standing third in the Russian Premier League. A side full of Russia internationals, they scored three goals away from home on the way to defeating Lyon in the last round.

“Russian teams always have good technical level,” Wenger said. “Personally I have always had difficult games against Russian teams and CSKA are a strong side. I watched the match they played in Lyon and they played extremely well and created many chances. For me this tie is 50-50.”

Arsenal (4-2-3-1, probable): Cech; Bellerín, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Ramsey, Xhaka; Özil, Wilshere, Mkhitaryan; Welbeck.

CSKA Moscow (3-5-2, probable): Akinfeev; V Berezutski, Ignashevich, A Berezutski; Schennikov, Natcho, Dzagoev, Golovin, Nababkin; Musa, Wernbloom.

Referee P Kralovec (Cz).

TV Live on BT Sport 2, kick-off 8.05pm.