According to Sport, Barcelona have set their sights on Arsenal’s offensive duo of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. It is believed that the Catalans are keen to reinforce their attacking department this summer and could make a move for one of these two Premier League superstars.
Arsenal are unlikely to let go of either of these two prized attackers. But, the opportunity to link up with Lionel Messi as well as playing in the Champions League on a regular basis could prove to be tempting for the players. Therefore, Barcelona have a genuine chance of making a move for either of these players successful. But which one should they go for? Let us assess both of their options.
Alexandre Lacazette
Lacazette is one of Europe’s most lethal goalscorers. But, what sets him apart from other top strikers in Europe is his work-rate. The Frenchman often tracks back and collects the ball from midfield and can initiate counter-attacks.
He is also a much more physically astute attacker when compared to Aubamaeyang. That means he is proficient when it comes to holding onto the ball and helping in creating spaces for his teammates. This could be ideally suited for Barcelona’s style of play, where Lionel Messi often likes to play a central role by cutting inside.
Aside from that, the 28-year-old can also thread through balls in behind the backline, and this could be useful as well with Barcelona’s overlapping fullbacks. And finally, it is Lacazette’s finishing prowess that makes him an appealing target for Barcelona, with the Frenchman netting 19 goals in all competition this season.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang is someone who heavily relies on his team’s chance creation. But, his opportunistic nature means he finds the back of the net consistently, with the Gabonese international plundering 31 goals in all competition this past season.
He is not as industrious as his French counterpart. Aubameyang, however, is a more versatile option as he can feature as the number nine as well as the wide attacker. The 29-year-old can also offer more pace and dynamism while his positioning is top-notch.
But, arguably the most significant difference between Aubameyang and Lacazette is that the ex-Dortmund attacker is a confident striker, who is not afraid to miss the goal. This is because he has confidence in himself that he would score in the next opportunity. Indeed, he is a more decisive player, and there is a shift in mentality when it comes to these two players.
And this could be really important for an attacker, who has to cope with Barcelona’s soaring expectations. Hence, Aubameyang looks like the best option for the Catalans among these two players and given his healthy relationship with Ousmane Dembele; he could be a smart piece of investment for the Spanish giants.
However, it’s still unlikely Arsenal will let go of their prized superstar as Unai Emery looks to kickstart a new era at the Emirates next season.
