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Arsenal: 5 Aubameyang & Lacazette alternatives

By Ross Kennerley

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring with team mate Alexandre Lacazette during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on November 1, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Visionhaus)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 01: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates scoring with team mate Alexandre Lacazette during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on November 1, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Visionhaus) /
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Arsenal, Gabriel Martinelli
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 13: Rico Henry of Brentford controls the ball as Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Brentford and Arsenal at Brentford Community Stadium on August 13, 2021 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

3. Saka – Martinelli – Pepe

A common denominator in whatever personnel Arteta opts for is the inclusion of Saka. Getting the minutes he did against both Tottenham and Brentford, it’s clear there are no signs of fatigue or a lack of match sharpness with the 19-year-old.

Everything is very natural to him and now he’s had those minutes, he’s certain to start.

As for centre-forward, Martinelli playing through the middle would be with an eye on three factors: having a competent striker who can head the ball, raw pace on the break and pressing from the front.

Do Arsenal take the game to the Blues and press intensely from the front with the aim of getting the home crowd right behind them, or sit back and soak up looking to exploit any weaknesses in transition? With Kante such gaps are near impossible to find, let alone take advantage of.

Arteta wants Arsenal to be winning the ball back in the final third and someone who can harass the Chelsea back three leaves Martinelli as the prime option. Furthermore, if it’s going to be Cross The Ball FC once more with Kieran Tierney likely to be providing whipped deliveries on repeat, having someone who knows how to use his forehead in those situations wouldn’t go amiss.

Ah, all sounds so delightfully simple on paper.

Continued…

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