Arsenal: The time is now for Alexandre Lacazette

Alexandre Lacazette scored his first goal in 10 games in Arsenal’s win over Crystal Palace on Saturday. The time is now for the Frenchman to press on and right the goalscoring wrongs of recent weeks.

Goals have not been Arsenal’s friend in recent weeks. With Alexis Sanchez yearning for his departure, Mesut Ozil absent through an ailing and slightly obscure knee injury, and other players failing to play with the same creativity and precision, Arsene Wenger’s side have found creating chances and score goals somewhat difficult.

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In particular, Alexandre Lacazette has felt the force of failing to see the net ripple. As his nine-game goal drought extended, his confidence lessened, becoming increasingly wasteful in front of goal and disillusioned in open play. So it was a welcome relief when he scored in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Crystal Palace.

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The goal itself was fairly inconsequential — Arsenal were three goals to the good at the time, Palace were painfully passive in their play; the game was decided after just 13 minutes. But for Lacazette, this would have been a significant moment for him. Strikers are built on confidence. Lacazette’s was seeping away at an alarming rate. And he even looked different after the net rippled.

The impassioned celebration for starters, teeth gritted, face rippled, fists clenched, almost angry, as the criticism and pressure of his recent struggles slipped off his body, was a sign that this was an important event for the Frenchman. But then, in his play, he looked more assured afterwards. His touch was a little more assertive, his movement looked that bit more dynamic, his thinking was that more intentional.

The move that led to Lacazette’s swept finish was perhaps indicative of his recent struggles. The man at the heart of it was Ozil, the man who has not been on the pitch.

The German, having dropped into a deeper position to pick up the ball, first played a one-two with Alex Iwobi, sliding his way past one Palace defender with a subtlely leaned first touch, then played another one-two with Jack Wilshere, cutting between two defenders in the process, before flicking the ball perfectly into the path of Lacazette, who simply had to take one step forwards before curling his shot into the far corner. Lovely.

So now the time comes for Lacazette to press on. It’s fair to say that his adaptation period has been inconsistent, if a little underwhelming. While he has scored goals, created chances, and looked generally sharp, he has not quite lived up to his £47 million billing yet.

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But the jury is still out. Lacazette can still prove himself better than he has up to this point. But he has to press on. Now. Hopefully, this goal will provide him with the impetus that he requires.