‘They thought I was finished. Oops, I am not’. That has been the story of ex-Arsenal striker Alexander Lacazette this season.
The biggest problem for Arsenal in the 2022–23 season was their lack of a reliable goal source. Arteta had options for his strike force, one of them being Alexander Lacazette, but there was nothing incredible about what his options were doing. After Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure in January 2022, Lacazette was left as the main man to lead Arsenal’s attack, but when called upon to do so in games, he just didn’t take his chances.
It was Nketiah, his backup, who did. Notably, instead of playing himself into a new deal, Lacazettw lack of impact in Arsenal’s attack saw Arsenal willingly allow him to leave on a free transfer.
Arsenal fans didn’t regret his departure, but Lacazette hints they should. While having a brilliant season at Lyon (he is one of the top scorers there with 20 league goals – Balogun has 18 at the moment), where he re-joined last summer as a free agent, Lyon seems to have targeted Arsenal fans in his latest chat with the media. The 31-year-old has called out Arsenal fans who doubted he still had it in him to lead the line, saying on Telefoot, “Because many people thought I was finished and were saying that I wouldn’t succeed, that the club was making a mistake. I wanted to show that Lyon was right in calling on me.”
What can I say about Lacazette’s claims? Well, he is not finished, and it is nice that he is shining. Anyway, I doubt any Gooner misses him; the direction Arteta’s attack needed to take needed someone else, and holding on to Lacazette was just holding on to the past.
Arsenal should be proud that Alex was a loyal and worthy member of our team, and we should be very happy for him that he has gone on to resurrect his career at his old club, Lyon….
Sam P
Arteta proud of our comeback after Arsenal 3-3 Southampton
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The life long philosophy I have always held as a fan who supports the club and team and NOT ex -players, who have no further use to us, is that I have zero interst in them after they leave us. Its true that REAL legends, such a Thierry, Dennis, Patrick, Tony A, Wrighty and that ilk DO stay in my affections
But LACAZETTE, is not remotely near that level of interest to me and, frankly, though I of course wish him no harm, I retain ZERO interest in him since leaving us. I will not lie and say otherwise.
He was finished in the prem and that’s all that matters ,to me anyway.
He didn’t fit Artetaball.
I always wondered why last season he dropped more into a number 10 role than the legitimate number 9 role. Jesus explains what Artetaball requests as he doesn’t play as an orthodox forward but across the 3 attacking positions. Although Laca tried… it never suited his skill set.
I never had any bad feelings about Laca, I just thought his legs gave up. But, seeing how we play this season to last explains why he was always behind play, and you can never teach an old dog new tricks.
The phrase square peg, round hole comes to my mind. But, I do fear for Eddie and Florain’s future at Ashburton as they are legitimate number 9’s which Artetaball (at the moment) does not require.
Could also explain KT’s expulsion, as he is an orthodox left back and not a jack of 2 trades.
He fit artetaball really well imo, he fought for the ball and linked well with the midfield and wingers, and his touch was decent. He was just getting old (physically he looked like he was breaking down) and his finishing was poor. In other words, his playing style fit, but he couldn’t play at the level we wanted.
Valid point Davi, this is why I love the ‘difference of opinions’.
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NB and Davi, I agree with you both regarding Lacazette at Arsenal and the EPL.
A real professional that was consistent with his strong work ethics, can see he has continues on that path.
Want to wish him well as he steps down a notch to wet his bread in a lower league.
“Notably, instead of playing himself into a new deal, Lacazettw lack of impact in Arsenal’s attack saw Arsenal willingly allow him to leave on a free transfer.”
As I’ve said many times, Lacazette saved our previous two seasons. Both times we started with auba and were poor (*very* poor two years ago) until lacazette took his place up front.
Last season that happened, but his form dropped towards the end and Nketiah came in and did very well.
Make no mistake though, in both seasons, we saw dramatic up turns in form only when lacazette came into the side – I know he wasn’t always pretty on the eye and his finishing was poor, but he was clearly doing something right (mostly fighting for the ball and bringing the others into the game!). I’m shocked by how few people seemed to notice that and/or how quickly they forget.
Arteta might not even still be here if he hadn’t had laca to call on. We were dreadful with auba up front, and Eddie might not have had the same impact that laca did in those times.
I noticed, I just didn’t understand until this season.
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@ Davi
I agree with you that he was a lot better as an all round team player than Aubamayeng who was more of a finisher.
But the PL is a very demanding place and I thought it was the right time for him and for us to move on.
Completely agree. I just think laca made a much bigger contribution than many people realised over the past couple of years.
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So much huff and puff with do little to show for it while at Arsenal. Glad he is enjoying his football once again at Lyon, but Lacazette would have had nothing to offer Arsenal this Premier League season.