We are often told about how hard it can be for a player to come to the English Premier League after playing in other countries around Europe, and there have been examples with players that Arsenal have signed over the years struggling to cope with the demands of the English game.
Some players signed by Arsene Wenger have never really thrived in the EPL and you would think that the boss had checked them out thoroughly before spending money on any transfer, so there is a theory that some players are just not cut out for it and there were some concerns among Gooners that our summer signing from the French club Lyon might be one of these.
Alexandre Lacazette is not the biggest or strongest of strikers and while the likes of Romelu Lukaku at Man United, Alvaro Morata at Chelsea, Salah at Chelsea and Gabriel Jesus at Man City had started the news season like trains, Lacazette’s return was not so good and he had missed a great chance to take all three points off Chelsea when he put Ramsey’s rebounded shot well wide.
You do not have to be built like Giroud to succeed in England, though, and Lacazette last night demonstated a great touch and a growing understanding with his new teammates while also bagging himself a brace and bringing praise from Wenger, as reported by the BBC.
He said, “He gets stronger in every game. Good first touch and movement. He is young and just arrived in England. The physical demands are very high.”
Football pundits were also impressed by Lacazette and he has been spoke about quite well before without being put up alongside the league’s top strikers. It is not even October yet and the whole Arsenal team have yet to find top gear, so can we relax and stop worrying that the new striker will not thrive in north London but will go from strength to strength?
Bob.