Looks like we're going to lose this guy in the summer. Personally I think he's going to be a big loss as he works so hard for the team, is brilliant at hold up play and bringing others into the game and he scores goals. We don't have a direct replacement for him in the team, Martinelli is a completely different type of player, Balogan needs another loan imo and I don't think Nketiah is going to make it at Arsenal. So that leaves us needing to go into the transfer market to replace him. Vlahovic would be the ideal replacement, but he is going to cost a bomb. Another option is Alexander Isak from Sociedad. Anybody else ?
Auba is the type of player who plays off the last man, Lacazette is somebody who drops deep to get the ball and then brings others into play. I don't see another player in our squad who can do that, other than Odergaard maybe, but he's not as physically strong as Lacazette.
I'm not as upset at Lacazette leaving as others are. I appreciate what a positive influence he is in the dressing room and he's scored some important goals for us, but his overall contribution, considering what was expected of him, has been below expectation. He'll always be a good servant to the club, but I think it's right that his time is up. We paid what was, at the time, a club record fee for him to be a clinical, sharp striker. As he wasn't doing the business for us up front, we then got Aubameyang in January of the same season. He's not reliable in front of goal, he doesn't have the stamina or speed to get on the end of crosses/through balls after he lays it off, he's not a poacher and he won't win you a game with a moment of sheer brilliance like how Alexis or van Persie could. With the way Arteta wants a centre-forward to play, Lacazette simply doesn't have all the attributes needed to fulfil that role. It's best we say goodbye. I'd like to see us use Martinelli more to assess whether he's ready to take over that role from Lacazette. If not, I'd potentially look at Calvert Lewin, Isak, Dembele or En-Nesryi. I did want us to look at Edouard or Daka, but those ships have sailed now.
Meh. Bought at the same time and for a similar fee as Salah. 51 goals in 134 prem games for Laca. 105 in 136 prem games for Salah. No great loss for what he cost. Good servant. Nice guy. Solid 7/10 player. WOuldn't get much resale value even if he signed a contract. Stump up the cashola for Vlahovic in Summer 2022 (once we qualify for CL). And get Kessie for a low fee in January (or failing that, get Bissouma to down tools and join us). Then we're golden.
I like him but I don't want us to keep him. Imagine this side but with a Vlahhovic or Haaland upfront. We need a TOP striker/forward and to do that we need to clear some space. Auba is Captain, scores more goals than Laca so Laca looks the obvious candidate to sell. Its a shame though that Auba has'nt really performed under Mikel, I dont know if its age, Malaria or the manager but he's certainly lost a lot from the guy who was scoring absolute Worldies for Dortmund.
