If you’re an Arsenal supporter, then the Football Transfer Tavern is the ideal place to be as fans are in jubilation following the Gunners’ positive start to their pre-season schedule in Australia.
£52 million signing Alexandre Lacazette got his career with the north London outfit off to the perfect start as the Frenchman bagged the second in a satisfying two-nil victory over Sydney FC in their pre-season opener.
Our Arsenal-mad landlord was then left ecstatic as Arsene Wenger’s squad came away from their second and final game ‘down under’ with a 3-1 triumph over Western Sydney Wanderers; heavily-linked away Olivier Giroud and Welshman Aaron Ramsey among the scorers.
So it is excellently clear that Arsenal mean business, and whilst this is only pre-season, the Premier League side can go into the new season with high hopes of challenging for the title and silverware.
Arsenal fans-by-the-bar are hoping to get the 2017/18 campaign off to a flawless start when they host Leicester City at the Emirates on the opening weekend, and here’s two things you need to look out for in this match-up.
Lacazette’s Premier League debut
The 26 year-old is highly likely to make his competitive debut for Arsenal in the anticipated FA Community Shield when they meet Chelsea at Wembley early next month, but it’s thought the Frenchman will feature against Leicester City in what will be his first Premier League outing.
Our Gunners-supporting barman is looking ahead to Alexandre Lacazette’s top-flight introduction and his renowned nack for scoring is expected to be continued in an Arsenal shirt for the visit of the Foxes.
Previously plying his trade across the channel, French football has been cruelly criticised in the past for it’s lack of competitive compared to the game in England, however, this is something to take note of in this encounter to see how swiftly Lacazette adapts to playstyles here.
Arsene Wenger’s use of the front three
Arsenal supporters in the tavern have frantically been biting their teeth ahead of the new campaign as rumours circulating Alexis Sanchez’s future in north London continue to spread like wild fire.
In the scenario that the in-demand Chilean forward does see his Gunners career through this summer then it will be most interesting to see how the front three of Arsene Wenger’s tactical formation consolidate each other.
Unlike Olivier Giroud, Alexandre Lacazatte is excitingly more mobile and his presence could push Sanchez out wide on the left, although expect this system to be experimented against Leicester City with whoever completes the attacking trio – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Theo Walcott.
Arsenal supporters, are you excited for the opening day match-up with 2016 Premier League champions Leicester City? What else do you think fans can expect in this fixture? Tell us your opinions in the comment section below!
