Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Palace: 5 key players to watch — Please score soon

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Alexandre Lacazette
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 03: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal misses a chance during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

1. Alexandre Lacazette

Alexandre Lacazette has now gone nine games without a goal. Initially, I wasn’t especially worried. He was still playing well. He was still getting chances to score, even if he was missing them. He was still having a positive influence on the game. But those beyond-goals positives have since waned.

Not only is he now not scoring goals, the primary task of a striker of his ilk and price tag, but he is also failing to impress himself on games, his movement not opening up angles as it was earlier, his thinking not quite on the same line as those around him, his play not quite as sharp.

And that has led to a concerning dropping of the head and drooping of the shoulders. The confidence, which is a precious commodity in striking worlds, is seeping away. Visibly. He is more hesitant when he gets the opportunity to shoot, his decision-making is not quite as ruthless, he is lacking the same energy, vibrancy and bounce. This is a mental rut as much as it is an ability-driven rut.

Next: Arsenal Vs Palace: Predicted starting XI

Lacazette just needs to score. It doesn’t matter where, it doesn’t matter when, it doesn’t matter who against, it doesn’t even matter how. He just needs to score. If he does, expect his game to spring to life. Hopefully, it all starts on Saturday.