Arsenal Vs Atetico Madrid: 5 key players to watch — Stage is set

3. Alexandre Lacazette

It’s been a funny old season for Alexandre Lacazette. Brought into the club as the striking saviour, the Frenchman was heralded as the future of the centre-forward position. Only, six months later, he was essentially replaced by  a player who broke his club-record transfer, his form decimated and his confidence shot.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

And yet, after a two-month injury layoff, he returned to the club as one of the most important figures in the squad. You see, with the Premier League now meaningless as the top-four race is lost, the only games remaining that mattered were the Europa League games, games that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could not play in because he was cup-tied. That remains true for the Atletico semi-final.

So, Lacazette will lead the Arsenal line against one of the most formidable defences in world football over the past few years. That is quite the challenge for a player who is still trying to truly prove himself as a world-class player, and not just the very good one that many perhaps perceive him to be.

There is another string to this storyline: Madrid were keen on signing Lacazette when he departed Lyon for north London. They could not complete the acquisition because of a transfer embargo, but there is reason to suggest that Lacazette would have preferred a move to Madrid had it been possible. Nevertheless, here he is, at Arsenal, playing against Atletico. His goals, if there are any, will be vital to the Gunners’ progression.