Alexandre Lacazette has started his preseason training with Arsenal, but one has to wonder if he is regretting his move to the English capital. His countrymen are on the verge of winning the World Cup in Russia, and Lacazette must feel his chances of joining them would have been very good had he stayed at Lyon. In his final season with the club he scored 37 goals in 45 games and was second only to Edinson Cavani for most Ligue 1 goals. Had he continued this form with Lyon he would be hovering on the verge of winning the World Cup, instead the man he came to replace at Arsenal, Olivier Giroud, is enjoying the run with the French team. Giroud cemented his role as a ‘super sub’ at Arsenal and also found new life following his mid season move to Chelsea, but last season the expectation was that Lacazette would take center stage, not be overshadowed by his compatriot.
Much was expected of Lacazette when he came to Arsenal last summer, but he certainly didn’t hit the ground running. He was given his chances early on, and although his performances were good, the goals didn’t come. As Arsenal dropped out of the top four quickly, Arsene Wenger felt the pressure to make changes, and for one of the few times in his career he uncharacteristically splashed the cash in the winter transfer market bringing in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. If Lacazette’s confidence was shaken before Aubameyang’s arrival, the transfer of the Gabonese international, with a transfer fee eclipsing that of Lacazette’s previous record, was the nail in the coffin.
The arrival of Aubameyang and struggles with injury led to fewer chances for the the French international in the second half of the season. As Aubameyang was cup tied and unable to play in the Europa League, Lacazette got his opportunity here, but Arsenal (and Lacazette) fell short crashing out against eventual winners Atletico Madrid. With the ousting, any chance of Lacazette receiving a call up to the French team for the World Cup quickly deflated. Aubameyang was the first choice striker in the Premier League for the remainder of the season, with Wenger unwilling to try his hand with a dual pronger double striker formation. And as the opening of the 2018/19 season looms, Alexandre must be wondering what his role will be, and there must be at least an inkling of regret.
The question is, will Lacazette be watching Sunday as his compatriots take on Croatia? I don’t know if I could.
