Alexandre Lacazette certainly isn’t scoring for Arsenal, but he is fulfilling a role nonetheless.
The French striker is now Arsenal’s captain following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure last month but the added responsibility has done nothing for his form.
The former Lyon marksman still only has three Premier League goals for the Gunners this season.
He drew yet another blank on Saturday as Mikel Arteta’s outfit edged out Brentford 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
However, despite not scoring, Lacazette did play a role in Arsenal’s second – and killer – goal.
Lacazette, who cost £46 million in 2017, prevented Pontus Jansson from reaching the ball in a passage of play which ultimately led to Bukayo Saka doubling the hosts’ lead.
The Sweden international saw his complaints dismissed on the field but speaking after the game, Jansson revealed that the ‘clever’ forward kicked him, though added that he could understand how it was not deemed a foul.
He told Brentford’s official website: “I think it’s tough to see. I go for the ball and I get a little kick from Lacazette. He’s clever. I can see it going both ways.”
Pest
Clever forward play only does so much for Arsenal’s ambition to qualify for the Champions League.
The bottom line is that the Gunners need goals.
Nothing else will get them into that top four and the worrying truth is that, well, Lacazette rarely scores goals.
He has netted three in 18 Premier League appearances this season, giving him an average of one goal every six outings and unfortunately, that isn’t sufficient.
He’s doing okay as the focal point in Arsenal’s attack but really, much more is needed and being a pest will only get Arteta’s outfit so far.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
