A few weeks ago, I stated that Unai Emery was going to have a transitional year at Arsenal and he would be aided if he could get Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette playing in the same team.

Now I understand why the Spaniard didn’t go with the two forwards against Manchester City or Chelsea but he did start the pair today against Cardiff City and the duo were difference makers.

Both strikers managed to get on the scoresheet as the Gunners grabbed a 3-2 away win in Wales and helped propel Arsenal back into the top half of the Premier League table.

The two were a threat all game and linked up well, particularly in the second half.

That was especially evident in The Gunners second goal. Lacazette received the ball just outside the Bluebirds box and as he held off an opponent with his back to goal the Frenchman flicked the ball on to his strike partner and Aubameyang curled the ball home.

Alexandre was making his first start of the campaign and he was the real star of the show. He also managed to hit the winner in the eighty-first minute when he took a good first touch inside the area before smashing the ball home.

The duo appreciate each others game and looked delighted for the other to get on the scoresheet.

In Lacazette; you’ve got a smart, strong and pacy frontman who can be the focal point to the team. He’s good at linking with those around him and keeping the ball moving in the forward areas.

Then you’ve got the raw speed and the prolific ability that Pierre-Emerick gives you. The Gabon international doesn’t directly play up-top with his French counterpart, Aubameyang starts out on the left wing. But that allows him to come in off the wing and run into space when Lacazette comes deep and gets the ball.

Don’t get me wrong, they can still work on the partnership but the early signs look good for Arsenal. They offer more of a goal threat when Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang play in the same team.

After the game Emery said this about the strike partnership:

“We are continuing to work on the combinations and also keep our mentality and our ideas. Today I think the two players scored goals and helped us.”

“We can continue to work to find the best performance with each player.”

Emery’s still working on the backline and the defence still looks shaky, you could see that with the two goals Cardiff scored. So when you have a potentially leaky defence it’s important that you have clinical attackers on the field to hopefully put away more chances than that of the opposition.

For me, having Lacazette and Aubameyang in the final third will always give Arsenal that chance of scoring more and that’s why Unai Emery should keep them both in the team for their next trip to Newcastle United.

 

 

Posted on September 2nd, 2018 by scott
Filed under: Article