Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette injury only deepens issues

As Arsenal travel to Sweden to face FK Ostersunds, Alexandre Lacazette was expected to start. Now, he is facing six weeks on the sidelines. The injury only deepens his already worrying confidence crash.

Alexandre Lacazette is having a tough time. Some blame him; others blame his manager. Either way, what cannot be refuted is that Lacazette is struggling. His confidence has been decimated, thanks to a flurry of factors, his starting role has been stolen, and his performances have toiled as a result. And now, to make matters worse, he is set to spend six weeks on the sidelines.

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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the man who had replaced him in the Premier League XI, is cup-tied for the Europa League. Because Borussia Dortmund finished third in their Champions League group, they slipped into the Europa League. Rules dictate that a player cannot play for two teams that have qualified for the competition, even if they don’t actually play a minute of football for one of those two teams. It was thought that Thursday’s trip to Sweden to face FK Ostersunds was his opportunity. Perhaps not.

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While many may question what Arsene Wenger will do with the remainder of his squad in trying to deal with the pair’s absence, first the ramifications of what this means for Lacazette need to be analysed, discussed and debated.

It’s fair to say that, unless Wenger had shifted to a dual-striker system with Aubameyang and Lacazette both starting or Aubameyang had suffered an injury that keeps him out of the team for an extended period, it was difficult to see how Lacazette could have ever enjoyed regular playing time, something that he is clearly desperate for in a World Cup year — that is precisely why Olivier Giroud departed in January. He needed to make ground on his inner-squad rivals. He has just lost a whole bunch.

But perhaps more concerning than just his mere absence is the longer-lasting mental consequences that could proceed. We all saw his relief when he scored in the win over Crystal Palace after nine games without a goal and a series of underwhelming displays. His confidence was shot.

And even since that goal, Lacazette has started two games and played another 25 minutes on Saturday and is yet to score. Things are not going well for him and he cut a painfully forlorn, crestfallen figure as he trudged off the life-sapping Wembley pitch after his two missed opportunities.

This news, then, does not exactly help. Injuries, first and foremost, are depressing. Every player wants to play. Sometimes, when the lack of playing is because of superior options, the manager’s decisions can be understood, or at least conceded. But when playing is not possible because of factors beyond your own control, it is somewhat more frustrating. Luck is rarely happy.

Next: Arsenal Vs Ostersunds: Predicted starting XI

Strikers are a confidence breed. They also need opportunities. Lacazette doesn’t have either, and he won’t do for several weeks. It remains to be seen whether he will bounce back. I am sure that Wenger will back him to do so. But the mental fortitude required is not necessarily something that he has shown before. Let’s hope, for his sake and the team’s, that he can.