Arsene Wenger brought Alexandre Lacazette to Arsenal in view towards getting a top-class centre forward who could score 25-30 goals every season despite Arsenal’s success with Olivier Giroud upfront.
Lacazette brought a lot of hope for Arsenal fans as they thought that their long term striker problem has finally been solved.
Lacazette made his name as a goalscorer in France with Lyon. His goal scoring form attracted interest from best clubs around the globe and that was the reason behind Arsenal splashing the cash to buy the French starlet.
He has developed himself into a goal scoring beast at Lyon.
Arsenal’s club record signing, one of the deadliest strikers in the World puts his foots in the Premier League. The expectations are sky high from the Frenchman as Arsenal supporters line-up long ques to get their hands on Alexandre Lacazette’s Number 9 jersey.
The expectations went a level up when Lacazette netted his first Arsenal goal in space of 94 seconds since the whistle on his Premier League debut against Leicester City. He has scored against Bournemouth and West Brom in next couple of matches hosted at Emirates.
Lacazette’s rugged period started from there, the goals dried up and suddenly he was under criticism for everything he touched.
On 30th November, 2017 – Lacazette scored for the Gunners against Huddersfield Town in Arsenal’s 5-0 demolition where as his next goal for Arsenal came on 20th January, 2018 against Crystal Palace. Hell of a ride for a renowned striker who is used to scoring week-n-week-out.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger went on to admit, “Lacazette was not himself in early Arsenal career“.
Upcoming winter transfer window(January’18) will have a large scale impact on Arsenal. There were arrival of Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and also the exits of the star players like Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud.
In the previous scenario (before the winter transfer window) Lacazette was always the first team preference for Arsene Wenger. But the situation changed after the arrival of Aubameyang.
Wenger preferred to play Aubameyang over Lacazette in the win against Everton followed by North London Derby.
This incident was met by critics as well as plaudits as Wenger faced controversy over pushing Lacazette down the pecking line.
Buying Aubameyang indicates to me that Arsene Wenger lost his faith in Alexandre Lacazette. Why would Wenger – who is known for not getting deals over the line for even a million up and down from his target price, break transfer record for player playing in the same position.
His poor outings with Arsenal threw him out of France’s World Cup squad. This squad went on to become World Champions in Russia.
Arsenal replaced Arsene Wenger with Unai Emery in the summer.
Emery does start him in the pre season with Aubameyang on the left but found himself warming up the bench for the first three games in the Premier League.
Impressive performances from the bench and demands by plavers themselves as well as fans saw Alexandre Lacazette starting for Arsenal for first time this season against Cardiff City last week.
Lacazette didn’t disappoint, putting up a man-of-the-match performance. It was an all round performance by the 27-year-old: His Intelligent movement, physical hold-up play, awareness, creativity, distribution, space-exploiting and space-engineering runs, and that rocket shot that was gunned into the net for the winner, showed why he belonged in the starting eleven for the Gunners.
We have seen Arsenal more threatening going forward when the duo of Lacazette and Aubameyang combine in the final third with the Gabon international moving on the left giving Alexandre the central role.
Lacazette not only upped his game but also helps others to up their too, so did Olivier Giroud do. Though with his speed to go past opponents is some additional input Lacazette provides on Giroud.
‘I think special mention has to go to Alexandre Lacazette’ Martin Keown told the Daily Mail.
‘How patient has that man been? His attitude has been impeccable.
‘He failed to make the French squad for the World Cup then watched from afar as they went on to lift the trophy in Russia.
‘Emery used him as a substitute in his first three Premier League matches, then he finally gets to start against Cardiff. So what he do? He goes and scores the winner.
‘Lacazette now has to play and be the person they build around. Full credit to him.’
Lacazette tops the chart of key passes per 90 (2.9) of all Arsenal players this season. Indeed, Arsenal look far more rounded side going forward when the former Lyon man leads the charge.
