Arsenal Vs Cardiff City: 5 things we learned – The Lacazette lesson

1. A lesson in striking by Alexandre Lacazette

It was Alexandre Lacazette’s first start of the season. It is something that many fans had been calling for throughout the first few matches of the campaign, with his influence from off the bench leading the majority of fans to believe that he should be the starting centre-forwards. It seems as though Unai Emery agreed.

Lacazette vindicated his decision. This was a lesson in how to play the centre-forward position. His touch and hold-up play were superb. Strong and stable when the ball was played into his feet, he shrugged off defenders, shielded the ball, and then brought others into play with neat and tidy passes.

He was also extremely intelligent and aware in his movement. He knew when to drop deep into a midfield zone and when to spin in behind; he knew when to drift wide and dart down the line and when to look for the ball to his feet. His flick for the second goal was indicative of this clever movement, recognising that he needed to provide an option. And then, for his goal, the two-yard channel he created by stepping away from the defender, before receiving the ball on the half-turn and smashing it into the roof of the net, was masterful.

This was the perfect, all-round striking display by Lacazette. If you want to show any young player who to play the lone striking position, then show them this game. Lacazette put on a clinic, and it was just wonderful to watch.