Arsenal legend Martin Keown has recently advised Unai Emery to make Alexandre Lacazette his main man and build the Gunners team around the French striker. The North London club made a shaky start to the new Premier League season, suffering back to back defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea before bouncing back versus West Ham United and Cardiff City respectively.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was deployed by Emery from the start in all of their four league matches so far, but it is Lacazette who caught the eye with some incredible displays from the bench so far. Whenever the French forward is on the pitch, Arsenal looks like a real threat which is why Keown’s comments shouldn’t come as a surprise.
What Makes Lacazette So Good?
The 27-year-old is precisely the kind of frontman who will give it his all on the pitch. What makes him even more deserving to be the focal point of the Gunners attack is the fact that he is a proven goal-scorer. In a recent column, Keown hailed Lacazette’s impact and went on to explain, “I think special mention has to go to Alexandre Lacazette,”
“How patient has that man been? His attitude has been impeccable.
“He failed to make the French squad for the World Cup then watched from afar as they went on to lift the trophy in Russia. Emery used him as a substitute in his first three Premier League matches; then he finally gets to start against Cardiff.
“So, what does he do? He goes and scores the winner. Lacazette now has to play and be the person they build around. Full credit to him.”
What Does The Frenchman Offer To Emery’s Side?
The French centre-forward boasts decent pace and can dribble past players with ease to either set himself up for a shot or create opportunities for his teammates. Although he is not as selfish in front of goal as someone like Aubameyang, he makes up for it through his sheer will to work hard for his side.
The Lyon-born forward has scored goals regularly for both Olympique Lyon and Arsenal during his career which is why Emery should consider giving him more minutes after the international break.
Should Emery Build His Team Around Lacazette?
Lacazette has already managed to score a goal and create two assists in four appearances for the club this season. Maybe it is time for Emery to finally unleash him from the start, keeping in mind the winnable fixtures which are looming on the horizon. Lacazette is perfect for the main role in Emery’s side, but the fact that there are so many talented players around him could make it a tough choice for the Gunners manager.
Hence, the North London club should wait and see whether Lacazette can flourish with more first-team minutes in the coming weeks before deciding on whether to build their team around him.
