Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette the solution to Eddie Nketiah

Arsenal are seeing a surge of pure ability from Eddie Nketiah, but Alexandre Lacazette may be the key to getting the best out of the young striker.

Earlier this summer, it seemed unavoidable—Eddie Nketiah would have to be loaned. With Arsenal already having Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as their two best players, both of whom are blocking the potential advance of Nketiah, it only made sense that the young striker go somewhere else for the time being.

But this preseason has been tremendous. Not just in terms of scoring goals, but in terms of being an all-around component to this attack. It’s been inspiring to see, and it’s forced a reconsideration of his immediate future.

The problem still remains though. There is still a massive roadblock in the way. That is, until we saw Unai Emery flex his tactical versatility against Fiorentina, utilizing Lacazette as more of a No. 10 than a straight-up striker.

Suddenly, Nketiah’s role with the club could take on a whole new light. A third-string striker doesn’t make much sense, and won’t see much time, but a second-string striker makes a lot of sense, and will see plenty of time.

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

If the plan is to shift Lacazette to the No. 10 role, to play in more of a creative capacity, though close enough to the shoulder of Aubameyang that he’s still a threat to goal, then the path opens up for young Nketiah to be the guy who comes on for Aubameyang and provides that spark in front of Lacazette, rather then opposed to him.

The only other solution before that was to constantly tun a 4-4-2, or 3-5-2, or any form of a two striker set and let Nketiah be the third striker in that package, coming on for one or the other. Which works as well, and could still be the way that Unai Emery is planning to go, but the obvious other perk to Lacazette moving is that Mesut Ozil falls away as well.

Ever inconsistent, many were hoping he would leave the club this summer, but that’s looking unlikely. So a 4-2-3-1 or a slightly modified 4-4-2 could result, with Lacazette playing behind the sole striker.

Nketiah is the biggest beneficiary here, and that has to be taken into consideration. If you’re not providing youth options a chance, they’ll all wilt before they ever have a chance to blossom (flower analogies!). Nketiah looks too talented to have that happen to him.