After back to back losses in the first two leagues games, Unai Emery’s Arsenal found a way to get some positive results, beating West Ham and Cardiff City in the last two games. While the result would give the fans lots of hope, the performances that got them those victories should still be questioned.
The new manager is trying to instil a playing style a few of the players are still trying to get their heads around. This, along with the quality of the squad at Emirates, would mean that Emery has to choose his starting lineup wisely. There are a few selection headaches for Emery, but two players, who both deserve to start regularly are Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
Arsenal have played a 4-2-3-1 system with Aaron Ramsey playing in a no.10 role. Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan can also play in those roles but have been pushed to the flanks. Alex Iwobi also got a chance on the left flank, but Arsenal were at their best in those games where they had both their strikers on the field.
In the last game against Cardiff, Aubameyang started as a wide attacker on the left flank while Lacazette played as the central striker. The French international picked up a goal and an assist while Aubameyang got himself on the score-sheet for the first time this season. There were a few instances when both players were caught out in similar positions, making similar runs, but once that misunderstanding is taken away, this duo could well be Arsenal secret weapon this season.
While Lacazette likes to play close to the centre-backs, which allows him to twist and turn making space for himself in the final third, the Gabon international loves to use his pace and is hard to mark in and around the box. Both players are natural finishers and would score regularly if the Arsenal midfield can create enough chances. So playing them together, albeit one of them in a winger’s role, makes a lot of sense for the Gunners.
Apart from the chemistry, they need to develop, Lacazette and Aubameyang should also learn in-game management, as they can swap positions to try and test different qualities of a defender, making it even more difficult for other clubs to set-up against Arsenal’s attack.
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Both players have registered 1.5 key passes per game but would want Ozil and Mkhitaryan to turn providers. It may reduce Arsenal’s defensive stability, but playing two strikers of such quality is probably the best way forward for Emery and the club.
