Arsenal: Patient Arsene Wenger is convicted over Alexandre Lacazette

Per Julien Laurens, Arsenal have been tracking Alexandre Lacazette for 10 years. Arsene Wenger has bided his time, patiently waiting to be sure of his quality. It is this summer that he is convicted of the Frenchman’s ability and ensured that he got his man.

Arsene Wenger is notoriously hesitant in the transfer window. His economic principles dictate that he must be wholly convinced of a player’s quality, ability and the improvements that they will make to the Arsenal line-up, such that the significant investment that must be paid to secure their services is vindicated and justified.

Related Story: Arsenal: 3 formation changes Lacazette offers

We have seen his hesitancy cost the Gunners several substantial signings in recent history. We have also seen his willingness to be patient benefit his team, ensuring that the additions that are eventually made are astute, well-researched, considered ones.

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That is why there is a degree of confidence in the impending addition of Alexandre Lacazette. Wenger is clearly convicted and confident in Lacazette’s ability, such that he is willing to break the club’s record transfer fee to sign him. And it has now been revealed, by French football expert Julien Laurens on BBC Radio 5 Live, that Wenger has tracked Lacazette for a decade, sending scout Giles Grimandi to watch him on a yearly basis:

"“The first time that Gilles Grimandi, the former Arsenal player and French scout for Arsenal, went to see Alexandre Lacazette on behalf of Arsene Wenger and Arsenal was 10 years ago when Lacazette was 16. For those 10 years they’ve looked at him so many times, year after year, not always convinced. Sometimes it was a yes, sometimes it was a ‘we’re not sure’ let’s wait a little bit more. This summer, finally, Wenger is convinced that this is the right time for him to come to Arsenal.”"

It is clear that Lacazette has been the subject of interest from Wenger for several years. A £29 million offer was rejected last summer, with Lyon, rightly, believing that they could hold out for a greater fee, and he is the type of player that Wenger traditionally tends to pursue.

Now, at 26 years of age, Lacazette is entering the prime of his career, just after enjoying his best season with 28 goals in 30 Ligue 1 appearances. There have been doubts cast over his ability to step up from the French league to the more physical demands of English football, and his link-up play, his touch and his quality in open play have been called into question.

However, given that Wenger has scrutinised and analysed Lacazette for a number of years, to the extent that he always does with potential signings, I have a sense of confidence that Lacazette has the quality to flourish in Wenger’s system.

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After so many years of considering an offer, Wenger is finally convicted and convinced in his decision to make an offer. That is only an exciting truth.