Trying to pick Arsenal’s worst performer in Monday’s 3-0 hammering at Crystal Palace is like trying to choose the most aggravating of the five – yes, five – Alvin and the Chipmunks movies. There’s just too many candidates.
But Alexandre Lacazette is certainly a frontrunner.
If the France international wants to prove that he deserves a new contract at the Emirates Stadium – his current deal expires in the summer – then he surely cannot afford many more nights like this.
Lacazette barely got a pass right in a dreadful opening 45 minutes, failing to offer any kind of a presence in the final third while flicking Arsenal’s best chance of the first half tamely over the crossbar.
To make matters worse, it was Lacazette who lost out in the 50-50 challenge which led directly to Palace’s second goal.
If there was one moment that summed up Arsenal’s humbling defeat in South London – a performance in which the Gunners failed miserably to cope with Palace’s superior desire and dynamism – it was this.
“Lacazette’s got to better than that,” said Wayne Rooney, watching on for Sky Sports.
It’s hard to imagine the Manchester United legend, fuelled by fire, ducking out of a challenge so feebly.
Fan-side Arseblog, meanwhile, awarded Lacazette a 3/10 for his performance. A number that even the most optimistic Gunners supporter would struggle to argue with.
Is Alexandre Lacazette leaving Arsenal?
According to TEAMtalk, West Ham United could offering Lacazette a fresh start in the Premier League.
But on last night’s evidence – and one the evidence of much of the campaign as a whole – it’s hard to imagine that Michail Antonio would be quaking in his boots if Lacazette joins him at the London Stadium.
A lack of goals – he’s scored just four in 24 league games this term – can be forgiven when Lacazette is offering so much more outside the penalty area; The intelligent link-play and relentless work-rate that has earned him the trust of Mikel Arteta.
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But when that dries up too, what else does Lacazette have to offer? On that nightmare night at Selhurst Park, the answer is ‘not much’.
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