Lacazette influence extends beyond goal tally
Arsenal is rolling under manager Mikel Arteta of late and is currently heading into the new year residing in the top four after a very impressive four-match winning run.
The Gunners managed to find the back of the net a combined fourteen times when they earned all three points against Southampton, West Ham, Leeds United, and Norwich.
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta applauds the fans after the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
While much of the talk has justifiably surrounded Arteta’s young guns and their growing influence at the Emirates, veteran striker Alexandre Lacazette remains a key figure in the front four regardless of his goal tally hardly inspiring many.
The former Olympique Lyonnais fan-favorite and Rhône valley native has hardly put up the goalscoring numbers with many that have come before him in the number 9 role, including friend and current clubmate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. But where Lacazette has excelled is his ability to contribute in all phases of play while bringing others into prominence on the pitch.
#AFC have been awarded four penalties in the Premier League this season.
Alexandre Lacazette has won all of them.
Not really making any point there just feels like a cool stat. pic.twitter.com/84DI1KZLUu
— Kaya Kaynak (@kayakaynak97) December 29, 2021
One stat that shows that influence has been his ability to win penalties this season for Arsenal, with all four of the Gunners’ chances from 12-yards-out coming directly from the French international.
With just three goals to his name in 2021-22 in the Premier League, Lacazette remains a key piece in an Arsenal forward line that has been purring of late, dispelling the notion that goals are the only commodity they are able to trade.
Arsenal continue to hunt for long-term number 9
Arsenal remains on the hunt for the next number 9 to follow in the wake of stars the likes of Ian Wright, Dennis Bergkamp, Nicolas Anelka, Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
That hunt has proven difficult in recent months and with the agent of Fiorentina’s highly-rated Dušan Vlahović speaking out regarding interest from Arsenal, claiming the Gunners are ‘not enough’ for the Serbian starlet.
But there are other alternatives that Arsenal can and should explore both in January and over the summer when Alexandre Lacazette and Hale End graduate Eddie Nketiah are both expected to depart the club on free deals, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remains an outcast in the first-team by his own actions.
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JUNE 14: Patrik Schick of Czech Republic celebrates after scoring their side’s second goal during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group D match between Scotland v Czech Republic at Hampden Park on June 14, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Petr Josek – Pool/Getty Images)
The likes of Sassuolo’s Gianluca Scamacca, Juventus’ Dejan Kulusevski, Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrick Schick, and Cagliari’s Giovanni Simeone are all affordable options for the club to potentially move for.
Despite the goalscoring contributions from Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Ødegaard, it is of vital importance that the next long-term striker brought to north London settles well to life at Arsenal.
