A lot of focus this summer at Arsenal will be surrounding their reported pursuit of a striker in the transfer window. With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gone and Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah set to leave as free agents, Mikel Arteta has a lack of centre-forward options at his disposal.
However, contract discussions surrounding Lacazette could be pivotal to how the window plays out for the Gunners, given his current importance to the team. The likes of Barcelona and ex-club Lyon are said to be interested in the Frenchman for the summer.
Arteta broke his silence on the striker’s future last month, revealing that the situation will be assessed at a later date. He said: “We have discussed that at the end of the season, when we know where we are going, to make a decision together [on Lacazette's future]. We agreed the decision is to do it in the summer [assess the situation] and that’s when we are going to do it.”
READ MORE: Every word Mikel Arteta said on UEFA's proposed changes, Nicolas Pepe and Crystal Palace
One key factor in the decision could be surrounding how the Gunners finish this season, with Champions League qualification up for grabs. However, his role in the team cannot be underestimated.
A major part of his game can be seen in one stat that is concerning at first, but reveals an awful lot about Lacazette’s new role in the team. Twitter user Orbinho tweeted: “Alex Lacazette has gone 17 hours and 53 minutes of Premier League football without scoring a goal from open play.”
Although this may highlight one of Arteta’s reasons behind trying to sign a striker in the summer, given the 30-year-old has only scored the four Premier League goals this season, his unselfish nature has shone through. His role has altered from a penalty box striker to a link player, often playing with his back to goal, receiving passes and combining play.
While it doesn’t show on his goal scoring stats, his seven assists in the league tells a story of its own, putting him in the 93rd percentile of strikers in the Premier League according to FBRef. They also have him in the 81st percentile for shot-creating actions, averaging 3.16 per 90 minutes of action.
Then there’s his work off the ball. Lacazette ranks highly in pressures, tackles and interceptions for this season compared to the average striker, sitting in the 77th, 88th and 88th percentile for each respective statistic.
Add to that a slightly different thing he brings to the team that is immeasurable. His experience and leadership, helping guide a young group of players around him with the knowledge and ability to get the best out of them.
It all comes together to show just how important the striker is to Arteta’s masterplan in a push towards the top four. While it may not reflect well on the scoresheet for him personally, there’s a reason he still manages to start every week at such a crucial time of the season.
