Arsenal: A happy Alexandre Lacazette a good Alexandre Lacazette

Alexandre Lacazette has said he is happy at Arsenal. And in being happy, he is good. A happy Lacazette seems to be a good Lacazette, and that is quite alright with me.

Alexandre Lacazette did not have an especially poor first season in north London. Although he was signed for a club-record £47 million in the summer and expectations were high entering the year and he may not have met such expectations, he still notched a team-high 14 Premier League goals.

Catch the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal podcast right here

That may not seem like a sensational tally. It only ranked eighth of players in the league and is less than half of Mohamed Salah’s league-leading 32-goal tally. But considering that he missed two months through knee surgery, it is not an especially poor figure.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

However, this season, he has been substantially more effective, and not just in terms of his goal return but in regards to his overall influence leading the line. And Lacazette, speaking this week prior to the weekend’s match against Bournemouth, has stated that he is now happy at the club and comfortable with a league that was previously unfamiliar to him:

"“When they came I was so happy and the discussion with Arsenal and the club was so quick, and with me it was so quick. I’m happy because I know now the league, I know my players, my teammates. The club is happy because this summer they didn’t want to sell me; they told me ‘we are happy to have you in the team’.”"

It seems as though a happy Lacazette is a good Lacazette, and that is quite alright with me.

In 897 league minutes this season, he already has five goals and two assists, a higher rate than last season. And his overall play has been far improved this season, especially in consideration to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s, who has struggled with his hold-up play with his back to the goal and found himself isolated in the big games against teams that can dominate possession.

Lacazette’s skill on the ball is exceptional. He has a great first touch, is surprisingly strong, with a low centre-of-gravity that allows him to hold off potential challenges and spin into space, and has the awareness and intelligence to make correct decisions with his distribution, especially on counter-attacks.

This overall influence, allied with his greater goal threat, makes him a far more valuable presence leading the Arsenal line. And he also looks far happier than he did at points last season, particularly during the winter months prior to undergoing knee surgery in February.

His happiness, his settledness, his greater commitment and application. These are all traits that have grown this season and it is leading to him being a more complete and effective centre-forward. Long may it continue.