Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette’s forced rebirth begins today

Arsenal gave Alexandre Lacazette six whole months to prove he was everything they needed, but now, his rebirth could take him to new heights.

After waiting half a decade for a striker that could just be leaned on to scored goals consistently, Arsenal finally landed Alexandre Lacazette in the summer and, through an annoying, and forced, acclimation process, we have emerged, six months later, with some skeptical faces.

Lacazette hasn’t hit double-digit goals yet, but it has to be questioned how much of that is his fault and how much of it can also be pinned on the undoubted frustration of being subbed off around the hour, 70 minute mark of every game and having to sit in games “too big” for him.

Still, it wasn’t conclusive, and while six months rarely are, the club found it pertinent to upgrade the striker position with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, which changes the ballgame for Lacazette, who, after suffering through a forced acclimation, is now likely going to be facing a forced rebirth. This time, however, the results should bode much better.

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Between the two, Lacazette and Aubameyan, the one that has to take the front man role is hands down Aubameyang. He is a goal poacher through and through. His pace is electric, more-so than Lacazette’s, and he is stronger as well, making him more of an aerial threat.

As has been talked about ad nauseum, this puts Lacazette in one of two positions – winger or secondary striker.

To put Lacazette at winger is to take all that frustration from his first six months and multiply it by infinity. That would be an atrocious idea that I don’t think even Arsene Wenger could think himself into.

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So it’s secondary striker then, a position that the Gunners have not utilized at all since the days of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp.

Assuming this is the new role for Lacazette, we should all be rather excited. In what little glimpses we have had on it, he looks completely capable of the responsibility. His touch and vision is superb for a striker and can be utilized more from further back in the 18-yard box.

But more than exciting us, this should excite Lacazette too. It’s no secret that this has been incredibly frustrating for him in his inaugural year in North London. A sort of “rebirth,” as I’ve been harping about, gives him a fresh slate to find himself and utilize his talents as they are better suited in a much more difficult league.

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Depending on who starts against Everton, this rebirth should be starting today. If not, well, it has to happen at some point. And even if it doesn’t happen against Everton, knowing that Aubameyang is on his way into the starting XI should light a fire under the Frenchman.