Arsenal: If not Alexandre Lacazette, then who?

Arsenal’s usage of Alexandre Lacazette has fallen under intense scrutiny, but at times like these, when superstars are leaving, if not him than who?

Arsenal’s not in a crisis. Any loss sustained by the Gunners is going to be blown wildly out of proportion. Chelsea lost too, you know? We had just gone through a perfect September and yes, that loss against Watford was wildly awful, but it does not constitute a crisis.

However, while it’s also not a crisis, we really need to talk about what is going on with Alexandre Lacazette. Earlier in the week, I referred to his treatment as “archaic.” I feel like Wenger is simply using the guise of “protecting” him in order to justify giving Olivier Giroud playing time.

As if there are no other options. It makes much more sense to try playing them together. Otherwise we are always going to be handcuffed by the impending substitution that doesn’t seem to accomplish anything other than trying to appease everyone.

We have a tremendous opportunity to let an immensely talented player take over a bigger role at the club, but it’s being dismissed solely for the purpose of trying to keep the whole world happy. Now, don’t get me wrong, Olivier Giroud needs his playing time, he’s immensely talented himself.

But no one is benefiting from this cookie-cutter substitution theme, least of all the two players. Neither will be feeling overly confident as neither can feel that they have the full faith of Wenger.

Here’s the thing – we have two superstars getting ready to depart and while I am all about getting away from this “live by superstars, die by superstars” complex, when you have superstars in your midst, dedicated ones, in particular, you give them responsibility. It’s what we did when Alexis Sanchez was dedicated to the cause and when he was powering the team.

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It can lift the team as a whole when it’s not just a solo effort in a void. And there were times when Alexis was like that to the club.

Alexandre Lacazette might not be on the same level as Alexis, but coming to Arsenal elevated Alexis’s world standing and it will do the same with Lacazette. But he has to be trusted the same way that Alexis was trusted.

Sure, they are two different players, different styles, different yada yada, but the international standing of these two players can be very similar, but again – you have to trust Lacazette. And I’m not the only one taking notice. Tony Cascarino had this to say, as quoted by the Daily Star:

"Arsenal have made a huge investment on Lacazette, spending £44m to sign him from Lyons in the summer, yet Arsene Wenger doesn’t seem sure about him. The France striker has played 90 minutes once in the league this season, in the opening game against Leicester City. Since then he has played: 78mins, 28, 75, 66, 83, 71, 68."

He went on:

"That will be rocking his confidence. He scored a brilliant goal away to Stoke that was disallowed and Wenger immediately hauled him off. I don’t believe he would have done that to someone like Thierry Henry, a striker who he trusted to produce the goods. Come on Arsene, back your centre forward. They spend all that money and he is being treated like a squad player."

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It doesn’t get much more straightforward than that. Nor does it get more accurate. Cascarino’s point is something we should all be wondering about. What’s the point of this supposed solution at striker if we don’t give him the chance to be the solution, or to be the hero?

That will be rocking his confidence. He scored a brilliant goal away to Stoke that was disallowed and Wenger immediately hauled him off. I don’t believe he would have done that to someone like Thierry Henry, a striker who he trusted to produce the goods. Come on Arsene, back your centre forward. They spend all that money and he is being treated like a squad player.

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