ARSENAL fans face an anxious summer ahead, with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil both increasingly likely to leave as their contract dispute rumbles on.
Ozil and Sanchez are Arsenal’s only elite level players, and the prospects of losing both would leave a squad already short on top-level talent pretty slip.
But if the worst does happen, and both players quit the Emirates, the Gunners need to look at Lyon pair Alexandre Lacazette and Nabil Fekir as replacement.
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Lacazette, a lethal striker, would bring pace, tenacity and energy to replace Alexis up front, while the left-footed guile combined with speed and finishing makes Fekir an Ozil upgrade.
The duo are two of Europe’s most in-form attackers, and while getting Lyon to sell their two stars in one window would be tricky, here’s why Arsenal must get them.
Goalscorers
THERE have been doubts over Lacazette for a long time, but you can’t argue with a goalscoring record of 94 in 197 games – even if it is in the French league.
We already know Arsenal bid £30million for him last summer and having bagged 22 goals in 24 matches this term, the club should be even more interested.
Fekir is equally adept in front of goal, albeit from a midfield role, and he’s currently enjoying his best scoring spree with 11 goals in 35 matches.
Pace
IF you’re coming to the Premier League, you need bags of speed.
Ozil often looks slow and laboured in possession, whereas Fekir is lightening and can make things happen in a moment.
Lacazette is also rapid and we’ve seen how much better Arsenal are with pace up front this season with Alexis running things, so he’d be able to bring that in abundance.
They are also strong and powerful, and look really stocky despite both not being the tallest. That would serve them well to life in England.
Telepathy
SANCHEZ and Ozil often seem to have a connection on the pitch.
They appear to know where each other are at all times, and what they’ll do next. Fekir and Lacazette came through the youth team together and also have that similar bond.
When your assist-maker and star striker are both on the same wave length, it makes things so much easier – even if they’re in a new club and league. It could help them hit the ground running.
Age
IT’S hard to find that balance of experience and potential, but Lacazette and Fekir have the perfect balance at 25 and 23 respectively.
They have top level talent and ability but also their best years ahead of them and plenty of time still to develop.
There’s no doubt Arsenal will have to dig deep into their purse strings to sign the pair, but they could deliver from day one and off-set the loss of Alexis and Ozil.