Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?

Arsenal have looked a little unbalanced at times this season. If Unai Emery was to drop either Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or Alexandre Lacazette, who should it be?

It would be fair to say that Arsenal have not quite clicked; they are still waiting for that last little injection before they will be firing on all cylinders. Unai Emery has started his first season at helm positively, laying down the groundwork for a successful tenure, but there is still that little element missing from the cohesiveness and togetherness of the collective.

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In a word, the team looks a little unbalanced at times. Earlier in the season, this was more of a problem as Mesut Ozil was shunted out to the right flank and Aaron Ramsey awkwardly tried to fulfil the responsibilities of a central attacking midfielder, despite wanting to consistently start from a deeper position. Emery has made changes to the team since then, which has provided a little more poise, but there is still more than can be done.

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Specifically, the roles and positions of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are troubling. Both are excellent players, the two best goalscorers in the squad, and worthy of a starting role in almost any Premier League team. But they are both out-and-out centre-forwards, built in the traditional mould of the position, and, in the modern game, there is a decreasing appetite for two strikers in the same team.

Recently, Emery has adapted by shifting Aubameyang out to the left wing. It serves a purpose, but Aubameyang does not always look comfortable out wide and Wolves exploited his disjointed partnership with Sead Kolasinac down that flank to great effect last weekend. This is not to say that Aubameyang cannot play out wide, but it is clearly not his best, most-suited role.

And that begs the question: Is it time for Emery to drop one of Lacazette or Aubameyang, and, if so, which one? If only one can play in the centre-forward position, which is the one you choose?

It is not an easy answer. Aubameyang is the better goalscorer and has the greater pedigree, but his play with his back to goal and with the ball at his feet is inconsistent at best. He does not link the play very successfully and he can find himself extremely isolated when Arsenal are defending deep against higher quality opposition that is more likely to dominate possession. Lacazette, while perhaps lacking the same goalscoring knack, does provide a greater all-round presence.

Moreover, Aubameyang likes to slip into the shadows of the game, purposefully losing himself, until he bursts into action with a driving run or thumping strike. That can make it difficult for the team as they look to a presence to lead the line and see a player who does not really want to get involved with the build up until the play has reached the penalty area. Lacazette is completely different to that. He will happily drop off, into the midfield, and help progress attacking moves up the pitch, before finding his way into the dangerous zones in the penalty area.

Is one player better than the other? I am not so sure. And I could very easily listen to arguments about either providing more value to the team. As such, for now, I would like to see Emery persevere with Aubameyang out wide. But it must come with a caveat: Emery must be prepared to drop one if this unbalance persists.