Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette is showing signs of striving

Alexandre Lacazette, in an interview with Sky Sports, has highlighted several areas where he needs to improve. His striving for success is wonderful to see, both for him and Arsenal.

The adaptation process to the Premier League is difficult. English football, unlike its European counterparts, has a uniquely physical and athletic element to it. The game is played at a higher pace, with a greater focus on and requirement of fitness, with referees a little more lenient towards the more robust challenges.

Arsene Wenger, as an experienced and knowledgeable manner, is well aware of the difficulties in adapting. He has signed and developed many players from foreign leagues that have little to no experience of the Premier League throughout his Arsenal tenure, some of which have been remarkably successful, even after struggling during the first few years of their time in North London.

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The latest foreign player to be signed by Wenger is Alexandre Lacazette. The Frenchman has enjoyed a promising start to life in England, scoring four well-taken goals, all of which have come at the Emirates. But Lacazette himself knows that there are still improvements to be made and nuances to learn and master. Speaking with Sky Sports, Lacazette revealed that he needs to take his success at home into away fixtures and that he must become stouter when holding the ball up:

"“In the Emirates, I have been efficient. Now I have to keep going and have the same stats away from home. I still have to work on some points, even if it’s going well. I can still develop my relationships with my midfielders and defenders. I also want to become stouter in front of goal because in England the referee does not whistle.”"

They are extremely positive comments to hear from Lacazette. The elements of his game that need to be improved or not can be debated all year long. But the very presence of the want to develop and further his game, acknowledging that the Premier League offers challenges that he has not seen or faced before, is significant.

It shows a desire, a desperation, to be the best. He is not happy to settle for mediocrity, as Arsenal have, justifiably, been accused of in the past. He is instead striving for success. That is an encouraging and positive attitude to see in an Arsenal player.

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Lacazette still has much to learn. He missed chances against Brighton, he was bullied by David Luiz, and he is yet to score away from home. But he is showing a willing attitude to learn and address such weaknesses. That is absolutely vital.

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