Arsenal have to place all their trust in 3-goal man

The January transfer window may only have closed little over a week ago, but it’s felt like months have passed for Arsenal since anything involving them took place.

There was a behind-closed-doors friendly with Reading pencilled in that reportedly got cancelled, meaning that focus has shifted entirely onto Thursday’s much-anticipated clash with Wolves.

It is one that almost certainly will have Alexandre Lacazette leading the line, someone who Mikel Arteta and co have placed all of their trust in. A risky ploy for a 30-year-old with just three Premier League goals this season, and just two from open play.

Opting against signing a striker in the winter window is a decision supporters have been left to stew over relentlessly, and one they will likely continue to ponder over the course of the entire campaign.

Arsenal have to place all their trust Alexandre Lacazette this season – but while he won’t be scoring many, he will give everything for the badge

But Lacazette is different. He isn’t just a striker afraid of shooting or getting into the box. That facet of his game is lacking if not non-existent, but every other aspect of him is all you could ask for in a player wearing the red and white.

While Arsenal can’t trust him to score, they can trust him to fight.

Wearing the armband with pride, if he was a 20-goal a season striker he would be near enough perfect. How he conducts himself, his desire, his work rate, and his energy are all exceptional and if that could be bolstered with the predatory instincts in front of goal he demonstrated in his Lyon days then he’d be worth money beyond comprehension.

All of which is hypothetical, because he is not that.

Between now and Everton on the final day of the season this team will be need his commitment more than ever. His time at the club will be up in just four months but there is no doubting at any stage will he look like a man whose focus is anywhere other than on the pitch.

Will he even score three more goals? Who knows. Based on the numbers he’s accrued this season that’s probably about as much as can be hoped for.

And while that is a rather fundamental part of being a centre-forward, unity will be key for the remaining 17 fixtures – from the fans, too – so the backing of Lacazette to be the dedicated professional he’s been all throughout his Arsenal career holds its own importance.

Knowing he won’t be hitting double figures is one unavoidable hindrance, but knowing he will give blood, sweat and tears to the cause has to be where the focus lies since there is nothing that can be done about his goalscoring capacity.

The focus should be on the positive side of Lacazette: that he will play for the badge. We can trust him to do that.