Arsenal: End of double goal drought provides hope

Alexandre Lacazette and Arsenal both ended a goal drought against Newcastle on Sunday afternoon. Here is why both of these cessations will serve the team well in the future.

For the first time in ten Premier League games, Alexandre Lacazette scored a goal. His goal drought, which spanned back since early December, has sliced and diced his confidence into infinitesimal shreds. Mikel Arteta had to bring Eddie Nketiah back to Arsenal and eventually into the starting XI because the Frenchman couldn’t get out of his own head.

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But he finally scored, and look what if meant to him. His shouts of joy could be heard from the sideline, and he collapsed in ecstasy as his teammates mobbed him. And other than being an epic dogpile, that celebration has some serious ramifications.

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Last season, Lacazette was the beating heart of this squad. He scored clutch goals, totalling the second-most on the team. He led the team in assists. That he was Arsenal’s Player of the Season is no mistake. He deserved it. His teammates rallied around him time and time again.

But that confidence monster struck again, and he was crippled by it. And with no Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to save him, he sank deeper into his blues. Not only was he not scoring goals during this desperate period; his all-around play had also depreciated, his performance against Burnley before the winter break a picture of a broken centre-forward. But on Sunday, none of it mattered.

It certainly wasn’t the prettiest finish. His right-footed shot clipped off his planted left foot, diverting the ball past a helpless Martin Dubravka and into the top corner of the goal. But none of that matters. Because he did score. And he did slay his monster. End of story.

But Lacazette was not the only person to break a scoring drought on Sunday afternoon. Only moments earlier, when Mesut Ozil bundled a finish home thanks to a Dubravka error, Arsenal did what they have done all season long: they dominated a match.

Arteta’s team scored more than three goals in a match for the first time this Sunday. Despite one loss under the new boss, they have never truly been able to dominate games, often failing to take their chances, not being clinical during periods of controlling play, and failing to kill off opponents.

And even though they did not dominate the first half, the second 45 minutes against Newcastle were arguably the most imposing the team has produced all season long. The four goals pay testament to the team’s strength and resolve, as well as the increasing quality and creativity in the final third. It heralds well for the future.

Lacazette often carries the spirit of the team on his shoulders. When he’s clicking, so are they. And as his pendulum begins to swing back around, you can bet dollars to doughnuts the team’s will too.