I am writing this piece of opinion or conjecture before Arsenal play the second of our Emirates Cup games, so what happens today against Sevilla may or may not support my theory that perhaps the biggest effect we have seen so far from the summer signing of Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon is how it has affected the club’s current striker duo of Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud.
The big French centre forward did not try to hide the fact that he was not happy to play second fiddle to anyone, despite the fact that he did it so well last season, and it was clear that the signing of his fellow countryman was not to his liking.
But he has also said that he is determined to fight for his first team place and to prove himself and he has certainly been doing that to great effect in this pre-season schedule. Giroud is giving his all and putting himself about with great enterprise and I must say that I have been impressed.
The fleet footed England forward has not been as vocal or as easy to read as the big man but he must know that his own place is just as threatened, if not more, and if that is why he played so well against Benfica yesterday then I think it can only be good for the team and our hopes of competing for a major trophy like the Premier League this season.
Of course we want Lacazette to prove himself to be an upgrade but it could take time and if his presence continues to make Giroud and Walcott play better then Arsene Wenger will have some serious firepower on his hands don’t you think? And that is without even adding Alexis Sanchez into the mix, so have the Gunners now got the best attack in England?
Bob.