Arsenal: This could be Alexandre Lacazette’s year

Alexandre Lacazette has looked extremely sharp in Arsenal’s preseason friendlies thus far. After an inconsistent first season in north London, this could be the Frenchman’s year to shine.

It’s easy to forget that Alexandre Lacazette arrived in north London as Arsenal’s record signing, a £47 million fee trumped the £42 million paid for Mesut Ozil four years prior. But this is a striker that came with a big reputation. His goalscoring record for Lyon was spectacular and there was a myriad of European clubs wanting to secure his services. And he landed at the Emirates.

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His first season was inconsistent. He started well, scoring after just three minutes with a flicked header against Leicester City. But as the winter rolled around, his form waned, his fitness deteriorated and the criticism began to flow.

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It emerged that he had been dealing with a knee problem for some time and underwent surgery in February to fix the issue. Two-and-a-half months later, he returned, this time allied with the speedy threat of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who broke his transfer record just six months after it was set. Lacazette would end the year with five goals in his last six games in all competitions. It took time, but the form that was expected of him when he first joined was finally coming to fruition.

And now he looks forward to his second season in England. After a summer of rest and relaxation thanks to his omission from the French World Cup squad, he is fully sharp and prepared for the year ahead. Judging by his performances in the summer preseason, the goals that he has scored and the manner in which he has played, this could be his time to shine.

Lacazette scored twice in Arsenal’s 5-1 dismantling of Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday and was named Man of the Match for his efforts. The goals were nothing special — a scruffy front-post flick after darting across the defender; a back-post header after a loose ball fell perfectly to him in the six-yard box — but they were indicative of the scoring nous that he possesses, and flourishes because of.

Lacazette also looked sharp in his overall play. He was strong on the ball, ostensibly having bulked up a little from last year, was clever in his movement off the ball, and linked up nicely with the young attacking talent that was on the pitch alongside him.

The display against PSG only reinforces the positive preseason that he has enjoyed. He was one of Arsenal’s best players against Atletico Madrid two days prior, scored against Boreham Wood two weeks ago with a clinical, across-goal strike into the bottom corner, and has linked up especially well with Aubameyang, providing the Gunners with two outright phenomenal goalscorers to lead the line.

Lacazette looks as sharp as he ever has done in an Arsenal shirt. He also looks happy, settled, hopeful for the future. He looks as though he is ready for the season to come, and that makes him delightfully dangerous. This could very well be his year.