Arsenal’s new assist king sets record vs Watford

When the winning goal crept into the Wolves net with 95 minutes on the clock, Alexandre Lacazette set off on a mazy run in front of the North Bank, celebrating wildly with the Arsenal fans and his teammates.

At the time it felt like his goal. Upon further inspection the two deflections and off-target direction of his shot confirmed it wasn’t. But it is still considered his goal in the eyes of the supporters.

Leading the line once more against Watford, if there was anyone in the squad you’d hope would be getting himself on the scoresheet, it would be him. A confidence player if there ever was one, Lacazette’s thirst needs quenching.

Instead of making the net ripple, he facilitated that action for others. Setting up Bukayo Saka with a neat backheel, he then doubled his assist tally for the game shortly after half-time with a delightful cushioned touch for Gabriel Martinelli, an even finer piece of technique than his first.

Arsenal’s assist king Alexandre Lacazette sets new record in 3-2 win over Watford as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli score fine Premier League goals

Lacazette’s song, however, might need a re-jig.

“He’s our Frenchman, he’s our No 9. He plays for Arsenal in red and white. Scoring goals is what he does best… and he goes by the name of Lacazette!”

Sang proudly from the away end throughout the 3-2 victory, the love the supporters have for the captain is undeniable. But as his job of dropping deep to overload the midfield is detracting from the legitimacy of the lyrics, changing but one word might be better suited.

Two delicate lay-offs for two 20-year-old’s at Vicarage Road – both met with thumping finishes – ensured that Lacazette set (another) a new personal record with two assists in a single Premier League game for the first time in his Gunners career.

His total of seven across the past nine matches, starting in the 2-0 win over West Ham in December, is the more than any other player in the division during that period. He’s also the first Arsenal player to provide seven assists across a nine-game spell since Mesut Özil in January 2016.

They may not help his goals-to-game ratio, but they’re playing an integral role in Arsenal’s points-to-game ratio. Even if Mikel Arteta said after the game that the 30-year-old ‘won’t be happy’ to have not scored, the end result is what matters and Lacazette having a hand in nine (including Wolves) of the previous 19 goals, as well as a total of 18 chances created, is an outstanding contribution. He’s just four shy of Trent Alexander-Arnold at the top of the charts.

Every striker wants to be scoring goals. They’re in the wrong profession if not. But while Lacazette is yearning for some of his own, he, of all people, will put the needs of the team ahead of his own personal accolades. It’s the kind of person he is: a captain.

With Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli attacking those spaces he vacates so expertly, eventually the ball will find itself on his feet. The opportunities he spurned against Wolves and Watford will present themselves again in the games to come. For now, however, Arsenal have a new king of the assists, which is more than enough for three points every week.