Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Manchester City: 5 key players to watch – Defeating the best

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC at Emirates Stadium on February 27, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC at Emirates Stadium on February 27, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images) /
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PIRAEUS, GREECE – FEBRUARY 20: Ousseynou Ba of Olympiacos FC battles for possession with Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg match between Olympiacos FC and Arsenal FC at Karaiskakis Stadium on February 20, 2020 in Piraeus, Greece. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
PIRAEUS, GREECE – FEBRUARY 20: Ousseynou Ba of Olympiacos FC battles for possession with Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg match between Olympiacos FC and Arsenal FC at Karaiskakis Stadium on February 20, 2020 in Piraeus, Greece. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

1. Alexandre Lacazette

While there is an obvious and accurate focus on the solidity of teams’ defensive capabilities when they face Manchester City, what is often the difference between a hammering and a close, competitive contest is the ability of the opposition to hold onto possession, release pressure off their defence, and enjoy periods when they can push up the pitch themselves.

This requires the attacking players to receive long, awkward clearances, somehow bring the ball under their control, and then protect it for all they are worth, whether it be through wriggling free and laying passes off for a teammate, winning fouls, or forcing defensive errors to hold onto possession. And for Arsenal, there is no better player at this process than Alexandre Lacazette.

Lacazette has his flaws, as proven this season, but when he is confident and firing, his play with his back to goal is superb. He has a terrific first touch, his passing is accurate, he is strong in holding off defenders, and he has the skill to deal with awkward passes and still keep the ball. He will have to execute all of these processes against City and then some.

Next. Arsenal Vs Manchester City: Predicted starting XI. dark

Arsenal cannot expect to defend for 90 minutes and repel City. They will have to release pressure, keep the ball themselves, and even look to attack at certain moments. And crucial to that will be Lacazette.