Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Alexandre Lacazette, Top Gunners Rumours
Arsenal will reportedly face stiff competition from Borussia Dortmund in the pursuit of Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette this summer.
According to Bild (h/t Alex Richards of the Daily Mirror) the Bundesliga side will swoop to sign the Frenchman should they lose Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the upcoming window; as noted in the piece, the Gabon international has been linked with a potential exit.
That would be a blow for Arsenal, as the Gunners have made Lacazette their top target, with manager Arsene Wenger looking to liven up his attacking options, according to Richards.
Lacazette has long been rated as one of the deadliest strikers in European football. Here is a look at why some top clubs are said to be courting him:
Indeed, as noted by Richards, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is also said to be a big fan of the Frenchman.
The interest in Lacazette is warranted, as he has consistently proved himself in Ligue 1 with Lyon. Defenders have found the striker difficult to handle with his sharp movement up top, powerful running style and composure when chances come his way.
As relayed by Daniel Storey of Football 365, there aren't many players who have been quite as lethal as Lacazette in front of goal over the last three seasons:
The Gunners could do with another option in the final third, especially given the strong rumours about Alexis Sanchez leaving the club this summer. The Chilean's contract is set to expire at the end of next season.
Sanchez showed just how more effective Arsenal are with a mobile presence up top earlier in the season too, as the team played their best football of 2016-17 with him leading the line. Alongside Mesut Ozil, the duo pulled defences all over the pitch, although Wenger has since shifted Sanchez back to the left flank.
With his intelligent positioning and searing speed, Lacazette could offer a similar kind of threat for the Gunners. Here's a look at how he fares in comparison to Sanchez and Aubameyang in league matches this season:
| Apps (Sub) | 25 (2) | 29 (2) | 27 |
| Goals | 24 | 19 | 26 |
| Assists | 2 | 9 | 2 |
| Shots per game | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.7 |
| Dribbles per game | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.9 |
| Key passes per game | 1.7 | 2.8 | 0.6 |
| Aerial duels won per game | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.3 |
The worry for Arsenal is the interest from elsewhere. Although the Gunners could put the most lucrative offer on the table, Dortmund and Atletico are teams challenging at the summit of their respective leagues; the pair are both in the last eight of the UEFA Champions League too.
As noted by Richards, Simeone is said to be unconvinced by Kevin Gameiro since his move from Sevilla ahead of this term. Per Agence France-Presse's Kieran Canning, bringing in the striker would keep star man Antoine Griezmann content as well:
With Lyon set to miss out on Champions League football this season, it feels as though Lacazette may finally depart in the coming months.
That would be galling for the Ligue 1 club, as they have helped hone his talents in the academy setup and given him a platform to thrive. However, the forward deserves to be playing at the highest level and that's not something they can provide as things stand.
Arsenal's attacking play would have a different dimension with Lacazette leading the line, as the club would finally have the predatory forward that has been lacking since Robin van Persie's departure in 2012.
However, Dortmund and Atletico could each make a strong case for him rejecting the offer from the Emirates Stadium.
