Arsenal vs Manchester Untied: Ride the Alexandre Lacazette train

If there is one thing we should have learned since Alexandre Lacazette joined Arsenal, it’s how to stay out of his way when he’s on a role.

There are plenty of talking points for the Manchester United match up ahead, and beating Chelsea so conclusively just added more to the picture, not to mention Hector Bellerin’s injury and the subsequent starting XI questions that have arisen in response. Arsenal have a big one on hand here.

But one question that should not be posed is whether or not Alexandre Lacazette should start. Because he should. He always should, no questions asked (again).

Lacazette is in his second year at the Emirates, and thus far into his tenure, he has gone through so many phases. He arrived, he scored two minutes into the season, with his head, no less, against Leicester City, and he got off the blocks like a stallion.

By the time the dreaded gauntlet that is the winter break rolled around, he was out for several weeks, in a goalless slump and the summarily replaced by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang just six months into his stay.

It was all a desperation move to try to get the Gunners into a position to win some silverware before Arsene Wenger called it quits.

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In response, Lacazette got better. His bromance with Aubameyang bloomed and he got himself back into fine fettle with the club.

This year, he’s been just as unstable. Not based on his performances, but rather based on when he is allowed to play. Because it isn’t always.

Unai Emery would not be wholly outside of his usual order of business if he sat Lacazette against United. He’s done that kind of stuff before in an effort to, I don’t know, keep the Frenchman fresh? Who knows.

But one thing Unai Emery has to understand is that, right now, Lacazette is coming off one of his better matches all year, he scored a stunning goal, and he is going to be hungry to try to introduce a little bit more consistency into his play.

So get out of his way. Let him play. Let him start up front either by himself or with Aubameyang somewhere in the picture as well, it doesn’t matter. Just show Lacazette that when you produce, you will keep getting the chance to produce.

Basically what I’m saying here is start Lacazette, feed Lacazette, and let Lacazette take us over the finish line. Or at least the current finish line.