Arsenal: 3 players Mikel Arteta laid the gauntlet down to

2. Alexandre Lacazette

After starting the final three Premier League fixtures before the break, Eddie Nketiah was again handed the starting centre-forward role on Wednesday night.

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While the rest of his teammates struggled to offer any semblance of control or service, Nketiah worked tirelessly. He pressed, he hurried and harried, he ran the channels well, and his hold-up play seems significantly improved. He also looked as though as he worked out and piled on the pounds during lockdown, all without losing that razor-sharp speed.

This leaves Alexandre Lacazette on the outside looking in. The Frenchman was the presumed starter at the position, even after losing his place to Nketiah before the break. However, it is quite clear now that Arteta truly believes in Nketiah as his starting striker, both as a part of the long-term project at the club and for the present needs of the time.

Lacazette, then, will have to force his way into the team, one way or another. He was provided with 23 minutes from off the bench to make a difference, but by that point, the game was over and there was little he could do. Ultimately, however, Lacazette is going to have to prove that he can provide more to the team than the young upstart. And thus far, it is Nketiah who is leading the way.