Arsenal Vs Sheffield United: Alexandre Lacazette, Gunners need a hero

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will miss Saturday’s match against Sheffield United. With Arsenal needing a hero in his absence, it is time for Alexandre Lacazette to step up to the plate and deliver.

As soon as the referee put his finger to his ear and signalled for a VAR check, you knew that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was in trouble. Then, as the replays showed his lunging tackle on Max Meyer, his studs landing above the ankle of the Crystal Palace midfielder, the decision was obvious: a red card.

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Aubameyang’s sending off means he will miss Arsenal’s next three games, starting with Saturday’s home match against Sheffield United. As his head coach confirmed in a press conference this week, he will be missed:

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"“Auba has been around, he was very sad after the game. He was disappointed that he left the team with 10 men. It’s an action that is completely accidental in my opinion. He’s been superb under me, he’s trained really well, he’s working so hard. He’s scoring goals and has probably been the most important player on the team. So to lose him, obviously, is really bad news for us.”"

The Gunners have only scored 29 goals in the Premier League season. Aubameyang has 14 of them. He also has one assist and helps provide space for his teammates with the speedy threat he poses in behind defences. His absence will be hard felt, especially when it comes to the goals.

Arsenal, then, need someone to step up in his absence. Who better than a former record-signing centre-forward who was named last year’s Player of the Season and is largely considered an elite striker?

It is time for Alexandre Lacazette to deliver when his team needs him most. While the Frenchman’s overall performances have been encouraging and positive, especially under Arteta, the goals have been lacking. He only has five league strikes on the season and hasn’t scored since December 5th. Arteta was asked about he and the Arsenal players can help Lacazette during this goal drought:

"“You can help him by talking to him and giving him confidence, but that ball has to end up in the net. I think that’s the best medicine for strikers. What we have to try to do is put Laca in positions where he can have as many opportunities to do that as possible during a game.”"

His answer is quite simple: put Lacazette in enough positions to score and eventually he will put the ball in the back of the net. It is a numbers game, and Arteta wants his team to provide as many chances as possible for their leading striker. But this strategy requires on Lacazette delivering where has not previously.

During this goal drought, he has missed good opportunities. A late rebound from Nicolas Pepe’s shot against Crystal Palace, a sliced shot after spinning past Harry Maguire against Manchester United, several good openings wasted in Arteta’s first match in charge against Bournemouth.

As Arsenal and Arteta look to deal with the absence of their top goalscorer and most important player, they need a hero to step up to the plate. It is time, then, for Lacazette to break his duck and deliver.