Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette proves he’s more than just goals

Alexandre Lacazette was invisible in the first half. In the second half, however, he was a prominent threat throughout, being so without scoring. The Arsenal striker proved that he is more than just goals.

Arsenal had to work hard for their 2-1 win over Swansea City on Saturday afternoon. After a laboured and lethargic first-half display that lacked penetration and incision in the final third, littered with safe and conservative passing without much intention or purpose, they found themselves in a one-goal hole at the break and in need of a little attacking resurgence.

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Thankfully, they found it. The tempo of their passing increased, playing through the phases with pace and precision, there was added dynamism and fluidity to their movement, they were able to cut through what had previously been a disciplined and combative Swansea defence.

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What was especially successful for Arsenal in the second half was the neat interplay between a free-roaming front three. Using the maintaining of the width that was provided by the presence of Sead Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin on either flank, the front three were able to drift inside, drop deep, and then spin into the channels, without worrying about contracting the size of the pitch. It was in these freer moves that Alexandre Lacazette showed traits that I did not know he was capable.

When the Lyon striker was signed for a club-record £47 million in the summer transfer window, he came to North London with the reputation as a pure goalscorer. A clinical and ruthless finisher in front of goal, with sharp movement in and around the penalty area, and game-reading anticipation that often gives him a yard on the defenders nearby, Lacazette boasted a rather impressive goalscoring record.

But there were concerns regarding his open-play ability. His lack of size and stature led some, myself included, to question whether he would be able to hold up the ball in a physically demanding Premier League, and, at times, his touch did get away from him, sometimes losing possession just as an attack was building.

Against Swansea, however, especially in the second half, Lacazette’s hold-up play was exceptional. He didn’t bully his way through Swansea. He didn’t overpower defenders. He didn’t dominate, perhaps in the way that Olivier Giroud might have done. But he did play with nous, guile, intelligence and subtlety, with a soft and caressing touch, neat flicks, tight backheels, and little touches that allowed Arsenal to play through the phases at speed.

It was a Lacazette backheel that, ultimately, led to the first goal, feeding Mesut Ozil in the process, and, astonishingly, he was not dispossessed once throughout the 81 minutes that he spent on the pitch. That is remarkable for any player. In a position as advanced and crowded as the centre-forward position, it is even more impressive.

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Lacazette may not have scored against Swansea. He may have been nigh on invisible throughout the first period. But after the break, he showed that he is far more than just goals, and that will prove invaluable throughout the year.