Arsenal: Front three can be even more frightening

Arsenal are built on the potency of their front three. But Alexandre Lacazette has stated that, with time, they can get even better. That is a frightening prospect indeed.

This current Arsenal team are built on their front three. Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are, probably, the best three players in the squad. It makes sense that, from a personnel standpoint, they are the focal point of the team. It also makes sense from a resources standpoint.

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Ozil was the Gunners’ record signing in the summer of 2013. Had he not been signed, Sanchez would have been the record signing just a year later. And then, this summer, Lacazette became the club’s record signing. These are the three most expensive players in Arsenal’s history. They should the foundation of this team.

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And they have been, when they have played together, this season. In all competitions this season, Ozil has had a direct hand in seven goals, Sanchez in eight goals, and Lacazette, nine. They have started four games together. Arsenal have won four of them, scoring 13 goals. And Lacazette, in a recent interview with the official club website, stated that they can get better as a trio as they further acclimatise to one another’s game:

"“For Mesut, it’s about passes, his vision of the game and passes. For Mesut, it’s about passes, his vision of the game and passes <…> On the pitch, we’ve gotten to a point where we understand one another better, better than at the beginning. We learn more every day <…> It takes time to adapt. It will take days, weeks, maybe months, I don’t know. But, it’s not a problem, but I know that in time we’ll get on even better.”"

That is a frightening prospect. Already, they have shown a razor-sharp attitude in the final third. Although their finishing was somewhat wayward against Manchester United last weekend, they still had 15 shots on target out of 33 in total, forcing David de Gea to make a joint-record 14 saves.

And in two games prior, against Everton and Huddersfield, they collectively carved open the opposition with real pace and precision. Their connected movement, which engineers and exploits space for the other, their shared understanding in how to manipulate a defence, and then the skill of each individual to execute quick-breaking, free-flowing, sweeping, attacking moves is breathtaking to watch and difficult to stop.

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If their understanding of one another increases, as it surely will as they play together more, then Arsenal’s attack enters the next level. They are already excellent. If they can be consistent, they could rival the likes of Manchester City. Now that would be thrilling to watch.