Arsenal: The key distinction between Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Ray Parlous has highlighted a key distinction between Arsenal’s two leading centre-forwards: confidence. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not scared to miss; Alexandre Lacazette is.

In Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Unai Emery is extremely fortunate to have two of the very best goalscorers in the Premier League. Arsenal’s two club-record transfer showed a blossoming relationship in the latter stages of last season, with Aubameyang pushed into an advanced wide-left position and Lacazette flourishing as a result of the space his presence created through the middle.

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It was a potent partnership that led to Lacazette ending the year with four goals in his final five Premier League games and Aubameyang with nine goals in his final ten league games. It was arguably the brightest moment in an otherwise painfully season.

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But even though the two largely matched each other’s goalscoring prowess during this period, there was always a greater confidence that Aubameyang, not Lacazette, would score those crucial goals in tight games, even though he was the one playing out wide and Lacazette through the middle. And former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour, in an interview with BWIN echoes that sentiment, as well as highlighting the reason why:

"“Aubameyang is a big character and has a lot of confidence which is key for a striker. It doesn’t affect him if he misses opportunity because he’s convinced he will score the next one. That’s the difference between Aubameyang and [Alexandre] Lacazette. Lacazette looks frightened to miss and it affects his confidence, but he also has the quality to be an important player and I hope he comes good this season.”"

It is a point that I hadn’t quite considered before in such detail. I think it’s an opinion that almost all fans and analysts held without ever actually considering why. But as Parlour rightly indicates, there is a shift in mentality between Lacazette and Aubameyang, and it all comes to the motivation of their finishing.

Where Aubameyang looks to score in a positive sense, confidently shooting with power and precision, aiming for the corners of the goal where there is a lesser room for error, taking shots first-time without hesitation, striking from distance and early to try and surprise goalkeepers, Lacazette shoots with a fear of missing, not a hope of scoring.

This is not to say that Lacazette is a poor finisher or that is a sub-standard goalscorer. He’s a very good goalscorer. His record speaks for itself. But at the truly clinical, elite level, there is a ruthless assurance that he lacks and Aubameyang possesses. Even though Aubameyang may miss chances, I have far more confidence in him scoring the next one than Lacazette, and it largely comes down to the distinction in mentality between the two players.

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Ultimately, these are just the natural pros and cons of players. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses. It is natural for some to be better than others at certain aspects of the game. But it is something to be watching for this season, the difference in their relative clinical nature in front of goal.