TIME TO START THIS DEADLY DUO, EMERY
WHEN I look at the Arsenal squad Unai Emery has inherited, the two real gems are Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
Their pace and power would strike fear into plenty of Premier League defences, particularly those outside the top six.
Emery has to find a way to get them both into the team. Saturday’s victory against West Ham showed him why he must do so.
Starting as a lone striker on Saturday, Aubameyang was isolated. West Ham dominated in the first half, Arsenal had just two efforts on target and their centre forward failed to have a single touch in the opposition box.
Bringing on Lacazette at half-time was a game-changer. Straight away Arsenal looked more threatening. They had eight attempts on target and scored the two goals that won them the game.
This was a huge result for Arsenal and Emery. They may not have played great football but it is understandable if the team were nervous after losing their first two matches.
Their improved second-half performance — and that of their two strikers — should give Arsenal’s new manager real food for thought.
Not only do Lacazette and Aubameyang have a the makings of a good relationship on the pitch but they seem as thick as thieves off it.
Arsenal fans have been clamouring for them to start and Aubameyang himself has said just how eager he is to play with Lacazette.
‘We get on really well,’ he said earlier this month. ‘There is a spark between us when we are both on the pitch.’
Most managers prefer to play with a lone striker but that does not mean you cannot play with two up. France started Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud at the World Cup, with Griezmann linking well with the midfield.
The problem for Emery is that Aubameyang and Lacazette both like to play on the shoulder and make runs in behind.
Starting both could leave Arsenal outnumbered in midfield — especially as they lack an energetic, box-to-box player like N’Golo Kante.
Emery’s philosophy is to play out from the back. To do so he needs bodies in midfield, particularly against their top-six rivals.
But when Arsenal are facing lesser opposition — especially at the Emirates — they will be far more effective if they deploy their powerhouse strike partnership.