Arsenal faced high-flying Liverpool on Wednesday night and despite losing by two goals to nil, the Gunners competed as equals for the large majority of the match. The two sides were largely inseparable until around the hour mark of the contest, with Roberto Firmino proving to be one of the more influential players on the pitch after being introduced as a substitute on the 55th minute.
The Brazilian scored Liverpool's second goal of the game, and he showcased exactly why Alexandre Lacazette should be deemed as a positive contributor for the Gunners despite his lack of scoring in recent months. Six players within Mikel Arteta's squad have scored more Premier League goals - excluding penalties - than Lacazette this season, including Gabriel who plays in the centre of defence. Considering the Frenchman is traditionally labelled as a striker, he doesn't find the net very often.
However, Firmino has suffered from similar criticism in recent years. The South American has interpreted the no.9 role according to his own skill set at Anfield, which has resulted in him drifting into midfield and away from the penalty box on a regular basis. Rather than scoring a wealth of goals, the 30 year-old offers value when it comes to linking with others, keeping the ball in dangerous areas and working himself into the ground on the defensive side of the game.
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Firmino has been able to form part of a functional and effective unit under Klopp because of the players he's been grouped alongside in attack. The Reds have picked up a number of direct wide forwards in recent years, including Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz.
Those players have complemented Firmino's strengths and limitations perfectly and at the Emirates, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka seem to be doing the same for Lacazette. The duo are just 20 years-old, but they offer comparable perks once considering their speed, directness and unpredictability from wide areas.
As Lacazette continues to come towards the ball, Arsenal's system should continue to work because of how Martinelli, Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe are willing to run beyond him in the opposite direction. The attacking make-up of the Gunners is becoming increasingly comparable to that of Liverpool.
It is perhaps no surprise, then, that Martinelli and Saka have been linked with moves to Merseyside in the past. The pair offer penetration from out wide, and they are comfortable driving towards goal using spaces generated by Lacazette's subtle movements.
As has become the case with Firmino at Anfield, Lacazette should not be judged solely according to his scoring. His overall contributions to the team are equally important, as he's essentially sacrificing himself for the players around him.
The seasoned striker has become more of a team player under Arteta, and he's a huge part of the reason behind the form of his offensive teammates despite his tendency to drift under the radar.
