Arsenal: 3 players who are now underrated

2. Alexandre Lacazette

Alexandre Lacazette has not enjoyed the greatest season, not by any stretch. He suffered through unhinged latter months of the Emery era, in which both he and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were painfully isolated and hung out to dry, he then missed a month with an ankle injury, before returning and going two months without a goal through the winter period.

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Lacazette has become a prime target for criticism. Every slightly miscontrol, every error, no matter how small, every missed opportunity is jumped on, a vast array of supporters calling him a ‘bum’ and wasting Aubameyang’s potential who is starting on the left flank to accommodate Lacazette through the middle.

However, even in a down year, Lacazette has still scored seven goals and added three assists in 1,318 Premier League minutes. In all competitions, he has 12 direct goal involvements in 1,793 minutes, which yields a goal or assist every 149.4 minutes. Aubameyang, in comparison, provides a goal or assist every 129.1 minutes in all competitions. It is not the gaping chasm that many would have you believe.

Lacazette also offers far more in open play. He is superior all-around footballer, his touch is excellent, and he supplies the frontline when he drops off the centre-backs and slides passes forwards. He was also Arsenal’s Player of the Season just a year ago. He has not played at the same level, but that year cannot be just forgotten about. Lacazette is a very good centre-forward, though Twitter would tell you that.