Arsenal 2-0 West Ham: 3 best elements of captain Alexandre Lacazette’s performance from vital Premier League win. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
On a night that acted as a timely reminder of the quality of the young players at Arsenal, there was no avoiding the brilliance of the captain on the night.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out in the wilderness after his latest infraction prompted him being stripped of the captain’s armband and a place in the squad, the duty fell to his close friend and colleague, Alexandre Lacazette.
The best compliment that can be paid to the Frenchman was that he put in a captain’s performance.
Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe grabbed the goals on a glorious night in the club’s Premier League season, the former being assisted by the No. 9 who showed the side of his game that has become more synonymous with him in his latter years.
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham: 3 best elements of captain Alexandre Lacazette’s performance from vital Premier League win
In reality, Lacazette is a fraction of the player Arsenal signed for £48m in the summer of 2017. The man who walked through the Emirates doors is in almost every way a shadow of his former self. But what hasn’t changed is his commitment, his tenacity and his application. He is the embodiment of a team player.
After another standout performance the topic of his contract situation will arise. By now you hope Arsenal have learnt from past mistakes – not least with the current Aubameyang situation acting as a fine example of what not to do – and displays like those shouldn’t cloud judgement solidified over the past few years.
He is, however, an Arsenal player and someone who will play a vital role between now and May. If he can maintain levels like these for the vast majority of coming 21 matches then Mikel Arteta’s side have every chance of a successful season.
This performance in particular was unlike many others in recent months. Lacazette was terrific, but in ways previously unseen. There was plenty to admire from him.
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Nuno Tavares is substituted on for Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
1. His Energy Levels Never Suffered
Lacazette has been a 65-minute player for quite some time. There comes a stage in every game where he needs a hot cup of tea, a La-Z-Boy recliner and a James Bond re-run on the tele.
Having started against Everton and Southampton prior to Wednesday, and made it until the 83rd minute against the Saints, the second half fatigue felt inevitable. His tenacious style and lung-busting work rate tends to see him collapse by that mark.
Against West Ham that never came. Everyone began to tire, naturally, as even Gabriel Martinelli was blowing with the game wearing on as he covered Kieran Tierney but couldn’t commit to the same level of endeavour in transition.
This was a huge improvement. He may be 30 years old but there is no reason why a professional footballer shouldn’t be able to make it until the end of matches (or 89th minute in this case) when they feature as infrequently as him, which may be the exact point. Set for a regular run in the side, if this is what he needed to build up his fitness then it’s arriving at precisely the right time.
Aubameyang’s omission looks set to be extended and with AFCON coming up – which it may or may not be – having him in a physical condition where he can surpass 70 minutes and avoid Arteta having to make a pre-meditated substitution opens the door for possibilities in-game.
Never letting his work rate drop, a Lacazette who can fulfill 90-minute duties with that degree of dedication will do wonders in the former captain’s absence.
Continued on next page…
pic.twitter.com/nGkILcDzt3
<p>— Alexandre Lacazette (@LacazetteAlex) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/lacazette-arsenal-captain-performance/"https://twitter.com/LacazetteAlex/status/1471439574547189762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>December 16, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2>Arsenal 2-0 West Ham: 3 best elements of captain Alexandre Lacazette’s performance from vital Premier League win</h2>
<p>In reality, Lacazette is a fraction of the player Arsenal signed for £48m in the summer of 2017. The man who walked through the Emirates doors is in almost every way a shadow of his former self. But what hasn’t changed is his commitment, his tenacity and his application. He is the embodiment of a team player.</p>
<p>After another standout performance the topic of his contract situation will arise. By now you hope Arsenal have learnt from past mistakes – not least with the current Aubameyang situation acting as a fine example of what not to do – and displays like those shouldn’t cloud judgement solidified over the past few years.</p>
<p>He is, however, an Arsenal player and someone who will play a vital role between now and May. If he can maintain levels like these for the vast majority of coming 21 matches then Mikel Arteta’s side have every chance of a successful season.</p>
<p>This performance in particular was unlike many others in recent months. Lacazette was terrific, but in ways previously unseen. There was plenty to admire from him.</p>
<div id="attachment_121809" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-121809" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/lacazette-arsenal-captain-performance/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1359226792-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Laca" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Nuno Tavares is substituted on for Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>1. His Energy Levels Never Suffered</h2>
<p>Lacazette has been a 65-minute player for quite some time. There comes a stage in every game where he needs a hot cup of tea, a La-Z-Boy recliner and a James Bond re-run on the tele.</p>
<p>Having started against Everton and Southampton prior to Wednesday, and made it until the 83rd minute against the Saints, the second half fatigue felt inevitable. His tenacious style and lung-busting work rate tends to see him collapse by that mark.</p>
<p>Against West Ham that never came. Everyone began to tire, naturally, as even Gabriel Martinelli was blowing with the game wearing on as he covered Kieran Tierney but couldn’t commit to the same level of endeavour in transition.</p>
<p>This was a huge improvement. He may be 30 years old but there is no reason why a professional footballer shouldn’t be able to make it until the end of matches (or 89th minute in this case) when they feature as infrequently as him, which may be the exact point. Set for a regular run in the side, if this is what he needed to build up his fitness then it’s arriving at precisely the right time.</p>
<p>Aubameyang’s omission looks set to be extended and with AFCON coming up – which it may or may not be – having him in a physical condition where he can surpass 70 minutes and avoid Arteta having to make a pre-meditated substitution opens the door for possibilities in-game.</p>
<p>Never letting his work rate drop, a Lacazette who can fulfill 90-minute duties with that degree of dedication will do wonders in <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/lacazette-arsenal-captain-performance/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/15/martinelli-arsenal-statement-west-ham/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the former captain’s absence</a>.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next page…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/lacazette-arsenal-captain-performance/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. Lacazette did what? </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_121810" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-121810" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/lacazette-arsenal-captain-performance/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1359242717-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Laca" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal takes on Craig Dawson of West Ham United and Vladimir Coufal of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>2. Lacazette Was Turning & Running With the Ball</h2>
<p>Seriously, what?!?!</p>
<p>Above everything else Lacazette did on the night, nothing stood out more than the moments where he didn’t just collect possession with a man on his back to then feed someone else or win a foul, but instead turned and <em>carried the ball</em>.</p>
<p>It was like the Lyon Lacazette.</p>
<p>Confidence may have played a part after the first goal as he was one-touch flicking his way past markers and driving at the goal from deep like he was 22 years old again. It’s a side of his game we haven’t seen for an age.</p>
<p>Not only was it refreshing, it was also a crucial pressure valve during a stage where West Ham were being more adventurous on the ball. Providing an out ball that not only stuck in position but moved up the field helped Arsenal regain control in some of the less dominant spells of the game.</p>
<p>Just as this was the most complete performance under Arteta, it felt similarly so for the captain. Linking play and winning fouls in his usual manner, he wasn’t afraid to be more of a centre-forward with his hold-up play and carries towards the box.</p>
<p>Where did that come from?</p>
<p><em>Continued on next page…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/lacazette-arsenal-captain-performance/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. What he 'transmits' </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-121808" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/lacazette-arsenal-captain-performance/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1359260500-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Laca" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>3. A Desire to Lead</h2>
<p>Lacazette is still more than likely going to leave Arsenal. He still should leave Arsenal when his contract expires.</p>
<p>But until the day his deal runs out he will lead the team with everything he has. Some may say he’s playing for a new contract, whether in north London or abroad, but so long as he maintains a level of performance and leads with the desire he showed against West Ham then that is all that can be asked of him.</p>
<p>He knows what it means to be a senior figure at the club. Every young player in the squad and all the new recruits always single him out as the man who puts an arm around them in training, advising them in every which way and supports them in their development.</p>
<p>Lacazette is a top professional, and against West Ham that showed in the way he conducted himself on that pitch. Yes he thrown himself to the floor extremely dramatically and gets in the referee’s face, but when his teammates crowd the ref he ushers them away as a captain should do. He was leading by example all evening, whether it be counter-pressing or tracking back.</p>
<p>Even some of the minor elements that seem frivolous, like back-to-back social media posts thanking the fans for their support, is the sign of someone who knows what his responsibilities are. Again, the sceptical may say it’s all PR, but he’s done it twice in the two matches Aubameyang has been absent now and it demonstrates an understanding of the duties he has at hand. Prior to those, he hadn’t posted since April.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="An encouraging trend under Arteta" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/encouraging-arsenal-trend-forming-arteta/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/lacazette-arsenal-captain-performance/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/12/16/encouraging-arsenal-trend-forming-arteta/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> An encouraging trend under Arteta </a> </div>
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<p>What Arsenal need in this moment is a leader and even if this one is heading for the exit door, he’s the best this squad has got.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
