Arsenal’s current league position may be similar to that when Unai Emery was sacked in December but the changes that have taken place at Arsenal since are immeasurable.
That’s according to Alex Lacazette who says he’ll learn from this season despite it being pretty traumatic for him personally and the team collectively.
Voted the Gunners’ player of the season last year, the Frenchman has failed to hit the same heights this season, struggling with an injury in the early months and poor form in front of goal.
He’s looked a bit more like his old self recently but that hasn’t stopped speculation that he could be sold this summer to help fund a squad rebuild.
In an interview with Canal Plus (translated by Get France Football News), Laca was asked if this had been his toughest season yet at the Emirates.
“At Arsenal, yes,” he reflected. “The injury hung around longer than I thought (to his ankle) and it affected me.
“Afterwards, I had this period without scoring, so certainly it wasn’t easy for me, but I still learned a lot this season, because mentally it was not easy. The difficulties this season are going to serve me well in the future.
He added: “It is not nice to be on the bench. At the same time, in my life I have had moments that were a lot more complicated and I did not doubt myself.
“It wasn’t really doubt, it was more unhappiness, like every player who is on the bench and wants to play.”
On Arteta’s coaching style compared to Emery’s, he said: “It is a completely different way to manage a squad, a team, a different tactical vision as well, it is hard to cite all the changes, there are so many.
“What the coach asks of me is different. They have completely different visions the pair of them.”
It’s not entirely clear what Lacazette’s relationship is like with Arteta. While the boss has spoken in glowing terms about the striker’s qualities, since January he’s forced the Frenchman to share the central striker role with Eddie Nketiah.
You’d forgive Lacazette, once our record-highest signing, for being frustrated by that but he maintains that the competition with the youngster hasn’t affected their relationship.
“Between me and him [Eddie], things are very good, there are no problems. We support each other.
“We know that everyone wants to play and it is the coach who makes the decisions, but between me and him (Nketiah) there are no problems.
He also rates the rest of the new generation. “They are very good youngsters, humble and working every day,” he said.
“I think they are the future of the club because we know that these days clubs need their youngsters.
“They are working, improving – Saka and Martinelli have had very good first seasons. And Joe Willock and Reiss (Nelson) help us with the small playing time that they have, which makes it not always that easy for them.”
He added: “I like to speak with the young guys. Even at Lyon, I really always got on well with them. If it is a youngster or someone more experienced, I will always tell them what I think can help them in a match, they will also talk to me.
“That is the relationship of trust that we have in the team, to try to help each other.”
Last night’s defeat to Aston Villa means Arsenal can’t finish higher than eighth in the league, a long way off the stated aim of finishing in the top four. Building momentum has been hard it the most stop-start of seasons. Lacazette also thinks we suffered from a lack of confidence at times.
“We lacked rigour at key moments in the season,” he said. “We lacked in confidence as a team, because each time we were lacking, whether it was a player at the back or a player up top, who affected the team to the slightest extent.”
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You can check out a translation of the full interview, here.
Keep him as we don’t have money. He’s a quality striker. Let’s focus the money on improving the midfield and defense and think of moving him on in the seasons to come. Right now it will be a waste to sell Laca cos you will have to replace him with someone who’s not PL tested and might take time to adopt. Arteta’s real playing philosophy will be seen next season when he’s comfortable with playing the way he wants. He mentioned that Laca is a type of striker he likes. My guess is he’s not focused on reinforcing his attack… Read more »
The whole team has been poor bar maybe Auba, Leno and recently Martinez. But I also think the criticism of Laca has been a little simplistic at times. The big issue we have is we have a team that just doesn’t create enough chances. Yes, Laca should do better with the ones he gets but to me our strikers know that they are probably only going to get a sniff here and there at goal. That’s not what Arsenal players of old would have had to deal with and surely can’t be a liberating thought going into each game. If… Read more »
Sell if Auba signs, keep if not. Simple
You not a Gooner
Neither’s Guendouzi.
I’m personally with Terry. We’ve had two and a half years of Laca / Auba and it’s never really worked. Also, Laca’s value goes way down after this window.
If you mean: “You’re not Gooner” – You’re wrong.
If you mean: You not a Gooner?” – I am
This is 2020. We have to believe all accusations.
Sorry Terry, please leave the forum and the club.
Couldn’t agree more.
It is clear that Emery fucked up this season, the players motivation and the team spirit
Arteta for the rescue
Emery had a good plan to make the team progress. He failed because he did not manage to secure players engagement the way Arteta has been doing.
Emery brought tougher training sessions to the club. He also wanted high tempo games.
I think this season was fucked up last season –
Losing so heavily to Chelsea in the Europa cup final, we never really recovered.
Plus the lose of 10 goals plus a season from Rambo , 10 plus from Welbeck, losing our captain Kosh. Plus Monreal all main players which we didn’t really replace with likewise/ better quality .
Unfortunately we are where we deserve to be .
I don’t think Emery would have succeeded even with a 10 year contract.
He may have kept us treading water in the top 6 but all our quality and attractiveness at the club would be eroded for pragmatism on top of the fact that any manager coming in after would be at a massive disadvantage against a comfortable and untouchable board.
He has spoken well, I think is time we start planning for next season with Arteta style of play. With him, we will achieve great.
We need to keep him. He is two left on contract and going to be important for a rebuild into CL. he holds the ball for us up top and plays others in. BUT he needs players who can also retain the ball and be able to work off him, attack opponents and beat them man for man. Problem is Auba and Pepe lose the ball far too frequently. Auba is only able to beat his man with space. In Pepe’s case he looks so messy and frankly I feel he lacks confidence which has made him flatter to deceive… Read more »
I like Lacazette, but you can’t get away from how many goals he scores occupying the centre forward slot. 14, 13 & 10 EPL goals in his 3 seasons.
Having him and Auba in the same team means we cannot play 2 wide forwards and it imbalances the team.