Arsenal need Lacazette to be ruthless against former suitors
Atletico Madrids cast of strikers since the turn of the century is a whos who of lethal marksmen: a young Fernando Torres, Sergio Aguero, Radamel Falcao, Diego Costa and, most recently, Antoine Griezmann.
Last summer Alexandre Lacazette was due to join Atletis illustrious finishing school, only for the Frenchmans proposed move from Lyon to collapse when the Spanish club failed in their bid to overturn a worldwide transfer ban.
Instead he joined Arsenal, who will hope that twist comes back to haunt his old suitors on Thursday night, with Lacazette set to spearhead the Gunners attack as they attempt to pull off an unlikely triumph in Madrid and reach the Europa League final.
Read more: Wenger rues missed chance after 10-man Atleti hold Arsenal
While Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, if fit, will be tasked with unpicking Atletis formidable defence, and Aaron Ramsey and Danny Welbeck have chipped in with important goals on Arsenals run to the semi-finals, it is Lacazette on whom the scoring burden rests.
The 26-year-olds importance has been magnified in the Europa League, with fellow forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cup tied, and he has largely delivered, scoring three times in four appearances, including last weeks 1-1 draw with Atleti in the semi-final first leg.
Yet doubts about ruthlessness have dogged his first season in England. A return of 13 goals in 32 domestic matches is no disgrace, although it is more modest than might be expected of a club record £47m signing who notched 36 for Lyon last season and reflective of some hesitant displays.
While his goal in the first leg was a fine downward header, Lacazette might have had a hat-trick – and already be visualising a glorious homecoming at this months final in Lyon – if he had proved more clinical with other chances, notably a mis-hit volley in the first 10 minutes and another headed chance that flew narrowly wide.
To give Lacazette his due, he has scored seven goals in seven games since returning from surgery on a knee injury that manager Arsene Wenger said had been hampering him.
Lacazette headed Arsenal's goal in the drawn first leg last week (Source: Getty)
But ruthlessness will be Arsenals watchword at the glistening new Wanda Metropolitano stadium, where Atleti have not conceded in their last 11 games – more than 1,000 minutes. Their hopes of finishing the season, and Wengers 22-year reign, on a high depend on it.
It was sorely missing last week, where the hosts failure to convert more than one of their 27 attempts on Jan Oblaks goal, despite playing against 10 men for 80 minutes, were cast in a harsh light by Griezmanns late equaliser.
On Thursday night, Lacazette can make amends and, at a stroke, remind Atleti why they considered him worthy of succeeding the prolific likes of Torres, Aguero, Falcao and Costa.
Read more: Arsene Wenger's Euro woe and his last shot at redemption
[contf]
[contfnew]
CityAM
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
