Is Alexandre Lacazette’s Time Up at Arsenal?

Alexandre Lacazette’s Arsenal career appears to be at a crossroads.

Despite starting and scoring in each of our first three Premier League fixtures this season, the 2018/19 Player of the Year has suddenly found himself on the outside looking in, and was benched against Sheffield United and Manchester City respectively. With these omissions, alongside a disappointing display in the Europa League opener against Rapid Vienna, the question must be asked: Is Lacazette’s time up at Arsenal?

I have always been a big fan of Lacazette. His hold-up and link-up play are very impressive and the telepathic understanding he has with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang makes us very dangerous in advanced positions. However, the Frenchman was extremely underwhelming for large portions of last season, failing to score in any competition between December 12th and February 16th, and looking visibly short on confidence.

He was thrown a potential lifeline when Mikel Arteta adopted a 3-4-3 formation after Project Restart to add some solidity to the rearguard. This system placed greater responsibility on Lacazette to drop deep and be the creator in midfield, where he thrived and played an instrumental role in our terrific FA Cup triumph in the summer.

Unfortunately for him, the 3-4-3 formation was always likely to be just a temporary measure, and the expected additions of defensive recruits in the summer window would enable us to adopt a more attacking approach.

While he did retain his place for the opening weeks and score a few goals, his recent absences in conjunction with Thomas Partey’s arrival indicate that the writing is on the wall.

The signings of Gabriel and Partey mean that Arsenal have greater defensive quality now and no longer need to overload the defence for the aforementioned solidity. This will allow Arteta to revert to a four-man defence like we had when he first took charge and play with more attacking impetus by fielding an extra midfielder. Therefore, it is likely that we will not be depending on Lacazette dropping deep to create chances in future and will now be in a better position to accommodate Aubameyang as the central striker.

The limitations of the 3-4-3 were laid bare in Austria as we commenced our latest European adventure. The home side’s low block made it very difficult for Lacazette to find himself in pockets of space to receive the ball.

As a result, with the creative outlet nullified, we were forced out wide in search of the break-through, leading to 45 minutes of slow, predictable and pedestrian football.

Perhaps fingers should be pointed at Arteta for his approach to the game – and I certainly do not think he did Lacazette any favours – but nevertheless it seems like this team is evolving and the former Lyon man is surplus to requirements.

As Partey and Gabriel continue to adjust to the league and Saliba awaits his first-team opportunities, we will gradually move towards a four-man defence with Aubameyang moving centrally. Maybe Lacazette could be a Plan B and give the manager greater tactical flexibility, but at the moment his lack of playing time suggests that his Arsenal career is in danger of fizzling out.