Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal Vs West Ham United: 5 things we learned – Flatter to deceive

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Arsenal players celebrate their team's second goal, an own goal scored by Issa Diop of West Ham United (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on August 25, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 25: Arsenal players celebrate their team's second goal, an own goal scored by Issa Diop of West Ham United (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on August 25, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal is challenged by Carlos Sanchez of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on August 25, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 25: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal is challenged by Carlos Sanchez of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on August 25, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) /

4. Lacazette needs to start

I love the aggressive nature of Unai Emery’s substitutions. He is not afraid to admit that he got it wrong and he’s more than happy to change things early in games, being proactive in trying to alter the course of matches. And on this occasion, it was the half-time introduction of Alexandre Lacazette that changed the game.

However, while it was nice to see Emery make this change early in the match, I would much rather have seen Lacazette start. Every time that Lacazette has been brought on, including in the preseason, he has made a palpable difference to the team, providing a true focal point as the central striker and allowing a nice foil to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, which in turn creates space for the Gabonian who shifts to the left flank.

It was Lacazette’s turn and cross that resulted in the second goal, he held off the challenges of the West Ham defenders with a strong, stable base that allows him to back into defenders and keep hold of possession, and his presence allowed Arsenal to get up the pitch when they were under pressure late on. It seems obvious. Lacazette needs to start.