Lacazette desperate to make big impression

– Alexandre Lacazette (right) is dreaming of a fairy-tale ending to a difficult debut season at Arsenal by firing the Gunners to the Europa League final in his native Lyon next month.

Lacazette scored twice as Arsenal swept aside CSKA Moscow 4-1 in their quarterfinal, first leg at the Emirates on Thursday night to take a huge step towards the semifinals.

The French international has largely failed to live up to his £46.5 million club record price tag Arsenal paid for his services back in July.

After an underwhelming first

London

half of the season, Lacazette’s troubles were compounded as Arsenal again broke their transfer record for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January to take his place as Arsene Wenger’s firstchoice striker.

With Aubameyang cup-tied for the Europa League, Lacazette has his chance to shine in the competition that represents Arsenal’s last realistic shot at qualifying for next season’s Champions League should they win in Lyon on May 16.

However, Lacazette also missed out on victories over Ostersunds and AC Milan in previous rounds due to a knee injury that kept him sidelined for six weeks.

Lacazette returned to action in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Stoke, when Aubameyang even passed up the chance of his first Arsenal hat-trick to let his strike partner end his near three-month wait for a goal from the penalty spot.

“I missed football a lot during my break,” said Lacazaette. “I have come back stronger, but it is true that scoring on my comeback on Sunday helped.”

Aaron Ramsey was also on target twice, including a sensational lobbed finish with the outside of his foot, while Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan shone on a night when Arsenal showed they have the attacking potential to end a 24-year wait for a European trophy.

Lacazette’s lack of playing time has also put his chances of making France’s World Cup squad at risk.

But he knows making a big impression in his homeland and the city where he played his entire career with Lyon until the last year could make a big difference to his chances of going to Russia.

“It’s in my mind a lot. Playing in front of my family, a final, it’s the type of thing that only comes around once.” –