5 problems Unai Emery needs to solve as Arsenal manager
By James Dudko
4. Lacazette or Aubameyang?
Arsenal’s new boss has the luxury of inheriting two £50 million-plus strikers. Yet Emery is likely to decide between Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette rather than play them together.
He has usually played one center-forward to fit his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. At Almeria, Alvaro Negredo was the focal point. Valencia were led by David Villa then Roberto Soldado.
Despite having two finishers as gifted as Carlos Bacca and Kevin Gameiro in Sevilla, it was often a case of one or the other for Emery.
Lacazette and Aubameyang showed signs of a possible burgeoning partnership toward the end of Wenger’s final campaign. Yet Emery is likely to build his attack around one.
Aubameyang appears the obvious choice after his hot finish to the season. The former Borussia Dortmund ace joined the Gunners in late-January, but wasted no time setting a club record, per Squawka Football.
As prolific as Aubameyang is, Lacazette can’t be easily dismissed. The Frenchman can play with his back to goal and displayed the deft touches and clever flicks to be a useful link player.
However, The Sun‘s Martin Lipton, Graeme Bryce, John Hutchinson and Simon Rice have reported Emery intends to build around Aubameyang up front and Ramsey in midfield.
The plan could spell trouble for both Lacazette and Ozil.
No striker with the price tag of Lacazette or Aubameyang is going to want to sit on the bench. Keeping both happy will be a delicate act of diplomacy for Emery.