Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette’s other dangerous duo must be unleashed

Arsenal finally saw what can happen when Alexandre Lacazette and Alexis are played together, but there is another duo just waiting to happen.

Arsenal might not have been able to unleash the star-studded trio that everyone wanted to see (more on that later today) but they did get to reap the rewards of something else pretty cool – Alexandre Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez.

Related Story: Arsenal vs Brighton Player Ratings

Also known as two-thirds of the trio.

Arsene Wenger talked these two up and the communication and rapport they are constructing like they were going to be together for the next five years (hint hint). And to be fair, they looked incredibly enticing against Brighton. While neither scored, Alexis did nab one of the more beautiful assists you’ll see and Lacazette linked up well too.

It has everyone talking about this emerging new partnership, as well they should be, but there is still a partnership that has not been unleashed with Lacazette that I can’t help but think about. Not to to mention it would put the finishing touch on a trio that I desperately believe needs exploring.

And no, I’m not talking about Mesut Ozil. I’m talking about Olivier Giroud.

Giroud has gotten the sh!t end of the stick, seeing as how the only playing time he gets is garbage time where he is unlikely to get any real solid attempts at goal.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

Playing with two strikers and Alexis in behind them is so deadly that it makes me crazy how it hasn’t been utilized yet. Something about having two strikers (or, by Wenger’s consideration, three strikers) just turns Wenger’s attention away.

Giroud is such a valuable resource that is not being utilized because of two clear beliefs that Wenger has that he shouldn’t. First of all, that Lacazette has to be played as a lone striker, despite the fact that Wenger is still “protecting him” from the full 90 minutes.

The second, that having another creative player out there is necessary. It isn’t. Between Alexis and the two holders in behind him, Arsenal has more than enough resources to feed two strikers who are so capable themselves in the areas of linking up play, flick-ons and the like that they become a font of opportunities themselves.

I don’t know how many times I can point out the same thing, but Giroud has made a killing on the national level by behind a knock-down target man. If it works for France, it can work for us.

Next: 5 Things Learned Against Brighton

And come one, who thinks that having Giroud up front would not be beneficial to Lacazette?