Arsenal Vs Chelsea: Alexandre Lacazette’s time to shine

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates scoring a goal during the Emirates Cup match between Arsenal and Sevilla FC at Emirates Stadium on July 30, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates scoring a goal during the Emirates Cup match between Arsenal and Sevilla FC at Emirates Stadium on July 30, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal face Chelsea on Sunday in the Community Shield. The curtain call of the summer’s preseason activities offers Alexandre Lacazette the perfect time to shine.

The process of adapting to English football can be a challenging one. Such is the unique physicality and intensity of the Premier League, that those who have little experience of it prior to their signing can often struggle early on, as Arsenal themselves have seen firsthand in the past.

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Robert Pires has revealed of the difficulties that he enjoyed during the first few months of his Gunners’ career, admitting that he found the going tough. But after time, and patience, he was able to learn from his experiences and his performances and improve, developing into a truly world-class winger.

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That is the task that Alexandre Lacazette now faces. Signed for a club-record £52 million in the summer, Lacazette has only ever played at one professional club: Lyon. He has played in just one senior league, Ligue 1, does have experience of European football, including the Champions League, but has seen his international appearances restricted with the presence of Olivier Giroud and Karim Benzema.

All that leads to him being inserted as Arsenal’s starting striker, ironically ahead of Giroud, without any prior knowledge or expertise of English football. In beginning the adaptation process, it is hugely beneficial, for his confidence and mental assuredness more than anything else, to get off to a promising start, scoring goals early on. That begins with the Community Shield against Chelsea on Sunday.

While he has featured at times throughout the preseason — he scored against Sydney FC and Sevilla –, for the most part, many fans who have not had the opportunity to watch him in France or in Europe have little knowledge, understanding or evaluation of his game. Sunday will be the first chance that they get.

And playing against the Premier League champions is the perfect chance for Lacazette to shine. Antonio Conte’s side are defensively stout and disciplined, they are strong and formidable, built very much in the Premier League mould.

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If Lacazette is able to engineer and finish chances against Chelsea, then it would offer a glimpse of what he may be able to do on a more regular and consistent basis. Sunday is Lacazette’s time to shine. Let’s hope he can do just that.