Arsenal will keep suffering without vital Lacazette decision

Over the space of two matches Arsenal have gone from electric to embarrassing. The raw emotion after the win at Aston Villa saw fans afford themselves a touch of belief. That’s almost vanished.

A horrendous result against Crystal Palace was followed up with an atrocious performance against Brighton. It was hard to believe this was the same team that had been in such inspiring form across 2022.

Of course, there is no denying how devastating the injuries to Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney have been. Take Harry Kane and Cristian Romero out of Tottenham and the impact wouldn’t be too dissimilar. Yet how Mikel Arteta reacted to that issue succeeded only to manufacture newer issues, those he did not rectify.

More than just tactical malfunctions and in-game stubbornness, Arteta got another aspect wrong in the game: Alexandre Lacazette.

Arsenal will continue to suffer as a team if Alexandre Lacazette stays as the starting central striker

It wasn’t that he used him wrongly or gave him improper instructions, it’s that he used him at all. We have arrived at the point where the Frenchman is damaging this team. How he was allowed to remain on the pitch for as long as he did, especially with Gabriel Martinelli coming off, was a decision only Arteta could answer.

The team have sacrificed his complete lack of goal threat for what else he’s brought to the side. No longer is he even providing that. Everything positive he’s brought to the table is being swiftly forgotten, seemingly by him.

Since Christmas time Lacazette has had four open play shots on target in 1000 minutes of Premier League football. Every team Arsenal face knows that he poses no threat to them, therefore can direct their attentions towards those who do. It makes Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli’s jobs distinctly tougher.

All of the link-up play and central axis facilitation is absent. Gradually over the course of the last few matches he’s become increasingly ineffective, both as a second striker and as an actual No. 9. There is no evidence of contribution from him, none that is of any benefit to this team. They’re suffering with a man light on the pitch.

It goes beyond tactics, and has shifted into a discussion of ability. His touch has somehow worsening, whether that be on either foot or with the ball in the air, and in possession his lack of confidence or sharpness results in regular distribution errors.

Worst of all is that there were stages of Saturday’s defeat where it looked as if he was deliberately hiding. Peeling off into areas where he knew the ball wouldn’t reach him, that authority he once exuded has disintegrated into a self-doubting puddle.

It has to stop. Arsenal can’t go on with him as the No. 9 this season. Mitigating factors have tried to find reason in his selection but they’re running dry. Whether it be Martinelli or Nketiah up front, Arsenal will continue to suffer unless new solutions are sought.

European football is at risk.