Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette really showing us what he can do

New man Alexandre Lacazette has revealed a new side to his play in recent weeks. Only now is the Arsenal striker really showing what he can do.

Thursday’s match against Atletico Madrid was exciting and very much an edge-of-your-seat thriller. But there was one man who stood out above everyone else: Alexandre Lacazette. This is his first season in London and he has shown us that it shouldn’t be his last.

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After lighting up Ligue 1 last season, a lot was expected of the Frenchman when he arrived from boyhood club, Lyon. Lacazette scored a whopping 37 goals in all competitions for Lyon, something that he was expected to carry with him to the Emirates.

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Arsenal signed him for a reported £52.6 million, blowing the transfer fee paid for Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid in 2013 out of the water. Having paid that much for any player warrants a quality start to life at the new club. In the case of Lacazette, it did, scoring in the first two minutes. A wonderful cross in and bullet header found the back of the net. He would then go on to score seven more before the new year, which was maybe a bit of a letdown.

However, after a two-month layoff due to knee surgery, Lacazette returned a new man, full of confidence, playing sure of himself. He has scored seven goals in six games, his work rate is incredible, chasing after balls and closing down defenders — it actually seems to have inspired other players to work harder too –, and his hold-up play has improved as the year has progressed.

But my favorite goal was his goal against Atletico Madrid on Thursday in what was ultimately a frustrating 1-1 draw for the Gunners.  The height that he got on his leap, very much reminiscent of Olivier Giroud. The direction of the header, the athleticism on show, the nose for goal. It was amazing.

With Arsene Wenger always seemingly substituting Lacazette later in the game, he never really had the chance to score. He would run the channels and show for the ball but other players seemingly didn’t want to pass the ball to him. But that was not true here.

Other than just the goal, which was extremely impressive in and of itself, Lacazette displayed an all-round game that suggested he could lead the line for years to come. His movement was sharp and intelligent, his touch was sound and controlled, he linked up play very well, and he could have scored a couple more if not for a little bit more luck in his finishing.

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He is a quality striker. If you give him a chance he’ll take it. He’s now been given his chance in the Europa League and he is certainly taking it.