Alexandre Lacazette has come under a huge amount of scrutiny for his lack of goals, but he installs a style of play that is extremely beneficial to the side.
The Frenchman has achieved seven assists in his last nine matches, which hasn’t been done by an Arsenal player since Mesut Ozil, who is known as one of the most creative players in recent years.
Lacazette also ranks sixth for the highest number of assists in the Premier League this season which highlights the importance of his presence.
The 30-year-old may not be scoring but his impact in other areas is crucial and is finally starting to come to light.
Lacazette recorded two assists against Watford on Sunday afternoon as Arsenal came out 2-0 winners which saw the club climb into the Champions League positions ahead of next season.
Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka were the three players who were positioned behind Lacazette and they all got on the scoresheet.
A big reason for this is due to the unselfishness of Lacazette, and his commitment to the side, despite the lack of killer instinct in front of goal.
His ability to bring other players into the game has made up for the lack of goals he scores, as Arsenal have different sources of goals from different areas due to the Frenchman’s link-up play.
It is not just his link-up play on the pitch has made him a pivotal piece in the fight for top four, but it is also his leadership in the dressing room.
A video was posted during Arsenal's winter training camp in Dubai, where Lacazette was in charge of the camera whilst approaching members of the squad. It highlighted the strong personal relationship he has with the players and reiterated his importance to the team alongside his leadership qualities.
One heart-warming moment, in particular, was when he approached Emile Smith Rowe and said “That’s my number 10, the future for Arsenal.” This left a smile on Smith Rowe's face, showing the positive impact Lacazette has on the team's morale.
It is also clear that Arteta wants Lacazette to stay, as according to L’Equipe, the Gunners are willing to offer him a contract extension of up to two years, but it is unsure whether the two parties will come to an agreement.
Lacazette is certainly the ideal backup striker, and the fact that he is putting up Ozil numbers in terms of assists highlights why his lack of goal scoring is not a major issue.
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