Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette can grant Olivier Giroud’s wish

Arsenal need to find a way to land Alexandre Lacazette while maintaining Olivier Giroud. If so, they will grant the latter’s wish from years ago.

Arsenal’s pursuit of Alexandre Lacazette is getting real. And I don’t mean that in any way other than the literal way. There is actually substance here to back up all the talk. Lyon has admitted the Gunners interest while simultaneously admitting their own interest in Olivier Giroud.

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But Arsene Wenger really needs to find a way to keep hold of both of them. Beyond it being just a matter of supply, there is the added benefit of what Giroud recognized years ago – that added dose of competition.

Two years ago, Olivier Giroud spoke about how productive it would be to have he and Karim Benzema on he same team. They already propel each other at the national level, now they can do it at the club level too.

That never happened. But with Alexandre Lacazette, it finally can happen. You can bet that Lacazette will be finding much more international time if he can find success at Arsenal. That means that he will become Giroud’s chief competitor. And just like that, the magical formula is born.

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And it is born without the reckless addition of Benzema, with the effects just as good. Nay, better. Why better? Because the two styles are completely different. If I wasn’t unfortunately sold on my belief that Wenger will never again use a two-striker system, I would bank on them being a fantastic pairing, with Lacazette dropping into the false No. 9 at times.

It could work in a formation more like the 3-4-1-2, with Mesut Ozil back in his preferred No. 10 position.

Whatever the case, everyone wins. I love the idea of landing Lacazette, but I love it far less if we lose Giroud. Keeping hold of both of them gives the Gunners arguably the most complete striking force in the whole of England. The versatility, along with the proven ability and the potential for growth is massive.

And it all stems from that internal competition concept that has pushed so many Gunners into performing at their best. It worked for Giroud this past season, and having it again this season will only benefit him more. Especially if they are going off to international duty together, pitted against each other yet again.

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This is a big move for the Gunners. It’s the final piece of the puzzle, plain and simple.