Arsenal's last two games have felt significant in the top-four race with Bukayo Saka, in particular, perhaps providing a glimpse into life without Alexandre Lacazette next season.
Heading into Wednesday's London derby against Chelsea on the back of three successive defeats, the Gunners surprised many by leaving Stamford Bridge with 4-2 win and then followed that up by beating Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon to open up a six point gap between the two sides.
Interestingly, those wins were achieved without Lacazette. Against Chelsea, the reason for his absence was fitness-related after he had tested positive for Covid-19, but he was an unused substitute in the win over United as Eddie Nketiah was rewarded for his brace at the Bridge with another start.
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Amid links to the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Cody Gakpo ahead of the summer transfer window, it would appear that Arsenal are planning for life without the Frenchman, whose contract expires at the end of the season, and he's already understood to be in talks with other clubs over his next move.
But whilst one of the aforementioned pair could replace Lacazette as the main striker in Mikel Arteta's system next season - if they seal a move to the Emirates - Saka could take over from the 30-year-old as the first-choice penalty taker after banishing memories of the Euro 2020 final in his last two outings.
Against both Chelsea and United, the England international won and converted from the spot to stake his claim to be given the role on a permanent basis next season, should Lacazette end up leaving in the summer. Those two attempts put Saka level with the striker in terms of successful penalties for Arsenal in the Premier League this season.
Lacazette, who took on the responsibility once Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was exiled from the first-team squad during the winter, actually missed his first ever penalty for club in the 2-0 win over West Ham United back in December. Although, he did make amends in the 5-0 thrashing of Norwich City, as well as the home win over Leicester City, and has proven to be one of the most reliable penalty takers in the Gunners' squad.
With that said, should the Frenchman depart in the summer then Arteta will need to find someone just as reliable to take over and based on recent events, Saka could be the perfect option, having also impressed the Spaniard by stepping up to take a penalty against Chelsea after missing the decisive spot-kick for England during last summer's Euro 2020 final.
"No. I thought Gabi was going to take it and when I saw that Bukayo was going to take it, honestly, the first thing I thought was back in the summer and what happened," Arteta explained. "But again, I said to you guys, when that happened to Bukayo it happened for a reason.
"He learned so much and he’s been through so much that’s why he’s having the season he’s having today. For him to have the courage to say ‘I’m going to take it again’ – because I’m sure it would have been in the back of his mind – for me it’s top order, even if he missed it."
