Sport
Alexandre Lacazette a key part of new Arsenal attack
Having been in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s shadow for so long at Arsenal, Greg Lea discusses how Alexandre Lacazette and found a renewed importance for The Gunners.
After a largely disappointing few years, there is renewed optimism at the Emirates Stadium.
The opposition did not pose much of a challenge but it was impossible to not be impressed by the way Arsenal put Norwich to the sword on Boxing Day. It was their fifth win on the bounce, including an EFL Cup quarter-final win, and leaves the fourth in the table at the midway point of the campaign.
Arsenal have now scored 14 goals in their last three games, with their 5-0 demolition of Norwich following a 5-1 win over Sunderland and a 4-1 routing of Leeds United, and it could have been more. They continually cut through the Canaries’ backline, with a vibrant, dynamic and exciting forward line exploiting the ample space that was left to them.
The visiting supporters departed Carrow Road glowing about their crop of young attackers, with Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli all impressing, and Emile Smith Rowe coming off the bench to score the fifth goal.
There is one member of Arsenal’s in-form attack who is nearer the end than the start of his career. Alexandre Lacazette might not have been playing for Arsenal had Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang not breached the club’s disciplinary code by returning back late from an authorised trip to France to see his mother. Aubameyang, who has not featured since that incident, was stripped of the captain’s armband by Mikel Arteta.
The Arsenal boss could have done without the off-field incident. Yet, so far at least, it appears to have strengthened his position. Punishing the club captain shows that no one in the squad will receive preferential treatment. Arteta’s authority would have been weakened had he fudged the issue, but taking strong and decisive action leaves no one in any doubt over who calls the shots.
On the field, too, there is evidence to suggest Aubameyang’s expulsion has not been detrimental. The Gabon international was one of the best strikers in Europe at his peak. In both of his first two full seasons at the Emirates, he scored 22 league goals. Last term that dropped to 10. So far this campaign, Aubameyang has made the net bulge four times in 14 appearances.
That would not be a problem if the 32-year-old brought other qualities to the role but he is a goalscorer first and foremost. If he is not finding the net, Aubameyang contributes very little.
Lacazette looks a much better fit for this Arsenal attack. His link play is better than Aubameyang’s and his willingness to drop deep encourages runs beyond him from Saka and Martinelli. He is selfless too and, while his own record of two goals in 13 Premier League appearances this season is unspectacular, the Frenchman brings more to the team than Aubameyang.
Lacazette is out of contract at Arsenal next summer, by which time he will be 31-years-old. He is likely to move on, with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona both thought to be monitoring the situation. With Arteta set to continue his drive to bring down the average age of the squad, Arsenal will feel they can upgrade on their present options up top.
It will be harder to shift Aubameyang, who earns £350,000 per week and is under contract for another 18 months. A January exit has been mooted but is unlikely, with the Africa Cup of Nations further complicated the already difficult task of finding a buyer for a 32-year-old who is among the best-paid players in the world.
Lacazette is a more than capable stand-in for Arsenal now. He is unlikely to generate too many headlines alongside the exhilarating youth of Martinelli, Odegaard, Saka and Smith Rowe, but he is the best complement for that quartet that Arsenal have currently.
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