Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette return carries more than expectations

Arsenal have welcomed Alexandre Lacazette back to training and it’s safe to say that he is carrying much more than heightened expectations for himself.

Arsenal put a lot on Alexandre Lacazette when they signed him. Some fans had been crying out for someone like him for half a decade. Others had been crying for the right pairing for Olivier Giroud for just as long. He was a savior figure, the man that was going to complete the attack.

And when he scored in the second minute against Leicester City, there was a huge sigh of relief. That monkey was off his back and it took him all of 120 seconds.

It was a consistent string of above-average/good play from him as he settled in and tried to combine with his team mates. He had some great games and some good ones, but never really had that massive “he’s here, watch out” matches.

Then he fell into a rut, as players often do, and rather than being able to pull himself out, he was replaced by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and then underwent knee surgery. Talk about a spiral.

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But Arsene Wenger gave Lacazette an opportunity to start afresh when he pinned Lacazette’s troubles on the fact that his knee had been bothering him. This allowed Lacazette to brush off the dip in form and focus on his return, where a few convincing matches would be all it takes to believe that he was just hurting, and now he is ready for the big time.

That carries some massive expectations. But then again, Lacazette has carried such before. In the year after his breakout with Lyon, he was in a rut early on and, rather than succumb, he pounded home goal after goal late on in the season to eclipse the 20 mark again and, just like that, it was clear that Lacazette was of that elite breed that won’t be held down.

Again – expectations.

But Lacazette is coming back with more than expectations at his feet. He carries his entire future as well. It’s no secret that it’s a less than desirable situation for him to be in, as he has to fight for a regular place and may never be able to overtake Aubameyang.

If he comes out and duds, that mountain he has to climb will start to look insurmountable. Aubameyang has more experience, a better record, better name value, a higher transfer value and Lacazette just has his scoring record.

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This is when Lacazette needs to make his charge. He can’t save it for later. Later is now.

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