Arsenal: David Luiz spot on about Alexandre Lacazette

David Luiz has praised the qualities of Alexandre Lacazette. Such comments should not go amiss among Arsenal fans and can only serve as encouragement for the coming season and beyond.

Entering the summer transfer window, there was a nervous trepidation surrounding Arsenal and their potential forays. Arsene Wenger had, controversially, just signed a new contract, but in doing so, proclaimed his intent and ambition to heavily invest in the squad, making the necessary improvements that were painfully clear after an underwhelming season saw his side drop out of the illustrious top four for the first time in his tenure.

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Such trepidation, though, was satisfied when the club signed Alexandre Lacazette for a record £52 million. There was tentative hope that Wenger would make such a signing, but expectation was perhaps a step too far for a fan base that has been scarred by past, naive hope,

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Nonetheless, in the aftermath of the signing, there has been much discussion centring on the virtues and the talents of Lacazette, with some questioning his inflated scoring numbers thanks to his penalty duties and others doubting his readiness due to the level of competition that he has faced having only ever played in the French league. David Luiz, though, is here to settle such fears. Speaking to Standard Sport, the Chelsea defender was gushing in his praise for the French striker, who he played against when with Paris Saint-Germain:

"“Lacazette is a top player, top striker. I had many opportunities to play against him in France and he was always difficult. Arsenal did well to take him. What makes him so good? He has the timing to go into the space, he finishes well, he can score many goals, he can assist. So he is a top-level player.”"

They are not insignificant comments. In fact, they are spot on. Goal scoring, for the most part, is a transferable skill. There is a knack that is required to score goals and Lacazette has it in spades. Regardless of the level of competition, this knack does not deteriorate or diminish.

That is what he offers Arsenal: a ruthless, cold, pacy centre-forward who boasts a justified calibre and reputation of scoring. Lots. In the past four seasons with Lyon, Lacazette has scored 15, 25, 21 and 27 Ligue 1 goals, demonstrating that he knows where the net is. He is calm and clinical, and he has the record to prove it.

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Luiz is someone who has extensive experience of facing Lacazette. He understands his skills, his vices and his virtues, he knows his strengths and he is acutely aware of the threat that he poses. Arsenal fans should be ecstatic about securing such an established striker and Luiz’s comments provide only further encouragement for the coming season and beyond.