Arsenal: 3 players Mikel Arteta needs to step up

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal embraces Mesut Ozil of Arsenal after the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on January 01, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 29: Alexandre Lacazette reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on December 29, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

1. Alexandre Lacazette

Alexandre Lacazette is crucial to Mikel Arteta’s offensive approach. Even if he is not scoring goals, his hold-up play is vital, receiving passes to feet, holding off defenders, and bringing teammates into play. But recently, not only has he not scored goals; he has failed to produce as required in open play.

Lacazette has not scored since December 5th. He has not scored an away goal in the Premier League in over a year. Those numbers are simply not good enough from a starting centre-forward in a top-six-chasing team.

In his latest outing, Lacazette looked especially lacking in confidence. Previously, he had been upbeat about his scoring drought, still providing value with other elements of his game, but against Burnley, even these moments were lacking.

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Arteta needs his number one centre-forward to produce like it. Lacazette was not Arsenal’s Player of the Season for nothing. It is time he played like it.

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