Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette return means it’s decision time

Arsenal have a wealth of attacking options, but it’s getting even wealthier. With Alexandre Lacazette due back, it’s reached a decision point.

We’ve finally received the news that we’ve been waiting all international break for—Alexandre Lacazette will be back for Arsenal when we return to action against Sheffield United next weekend. And just like that, everything is going to be fine. We’ll score freely yet again.

Lacazette’s absence hurt the team… just as much as you’d have expected it to hurt the team. It’s a problem that needs amending, but for the time being, we can breathe easy knowing he’s returning.

Also, in knowing that he’s returning, we need to start preparing for what that means for the starting XI. A starting XI that is already an enigma.

Ideally, the defense will become it’s best possible self with a youth infusion and the midfield will follow suit. But throwing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Lacazette, Bukayo Saka, and Nicolas Pepe into three positions isn’t going to be easy.

But then again… it kind of should be.

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While Lacazette’s been out, the Gunners have been utilizing a front three of Saka, Aubameyang and Pepe. Which should be just fine to score goals and create chances, but it hasn’t been. Saka has been figuring himself out and it’s been mostly successful, but Pepe has struggled, and in tandem, so too has Aubameyang, as he hasn’t been involved as much in play as we need him to be.

Lacazette changes all that. He gets back into the XI immediately because he just has to. Of course, there’s always that chance that Emery overthinks this, leaves Aubameyang as the lone striker, and leaves Lacazette as a super sub…. but surely not.

That leaves the debate between Saka and Pepe. I’ve already talked at length about this in the past couple of weeks, but me and my house are flying the Saka banner with gusto. It should go to him all day until Pepe earns his place like Saka has.

But it’s not up to me (damnit).

It’s up to Unai Emery. And that being the case, we will find out really soon what his plan is. Or if he even has a plan. Man may still be experimenting.

Anyway, Lacazette is back. That’s amazing. Whoever else fills in that front three will be better off because of it, and that’s worth celebrating. Now bring on Sheffield United.