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Long-term Gunners target Alexandre Lacazette seems to be moving within range of signing this transfer window, after reports of the club signing Monaco prodigy Kylian Mbappé proved to be misguided.

So what would the French striker offer at The Emirates?

Lacazette has once again set Ligue 1 alight this season, scoring 37 goals in 45 appearances overall this season as his side Lyon finished fourth in the table and reached the Europa League semi-finals.

Top quality strikers are in demand across Europe, and the 26-year-old is no exception – especially by the folks at football betting tips community Kickoff —  with suitors across including Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.

But it is Arsenal who nearly signed the player last summer before refusing to pay the high transfer fee the French club demanded.

It seems that a year on things have changed and Arsenal are prepared to meet the valuation as they look to bolster their squad this season.

 

Lacazette in Ligue 1

The last three seasons have been the most fruitful for Lacazette in France, with the striker scoring 74 goals in 97 games.

Lethal in front of goal, Lacazette is in the Thierry Henry mould. Very pacey, he can play anywhere along the frontline, including wide positions, and has an instinctive eye for goal.

At 5ft 9in he won’t carry much aerial threat should he join the Gunners, but his still and link up play mean he is capable of playing as a lone striker.

 

Lacazette v Sanchez

Despite decent, if unspectacular, returns from Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud last season, Alexis Sanchez was Arsenal’s primary goal scorer last season.

The Chilean struck 24 goals in the Premier League and 30 across all competitions, as well as providing 15 assists.

Lacazette hit more goals in Ligue and all other competitive games last season, but can’t match Sanchez’s assists tally.

The same is true across the last two seasons, with Lacazette hitting more goals than Sanchez overall but not providing as many to team mates.

In contrast Giroud scored 16 goals this season – a decent return considering his lack of starts this season – and Welbeck trailed far behind in an injury-hit season with just four.

 

Lacazette’s influence

Last season Lyon were a better side in Ligue 1 when Lacazette was involved, and he has become a focal point for a young and improving side.

Arsenal have needed a truly world-class striker ever since Thierry Henry’s departure and Lacazette has the potential to be just that for the Gunners.

If they can also keep hold of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez this summer Arsenal will be a potent force in all competitions next season.

 

Written by Joel Turner at KickOff

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