Why Arsenal should not go through with Alexandre Lacazette-Thomas Lemar swap deal
According to a report from Spanish publication AS (h/t Metro), Arsenal are considering the possibility of swapping Alexandre Lacazette for Atletico Madrid winger Thomas Lemar in the summer transfer window.
Atletico are very much keen on securing the services of Lacazette, whereas Arsenal have been long-term admirers of Lemar. So, they are now mulling over the chances of engineering a swap with the La Liga giants. (h/t Metro)
Lemar spent his developmental career at the Solidarite academy in Guadeloupe, before moving to France in 2010, linking up with the youth team of SM Caen. He made 35 appearances for the club, scoring a solitary goal and creating six, before AS Monaco signed him in 2015.
It was at Monaco where Lemar burst into the spotlight. In his three years at the club, he made 127 appearances, producing a return of 22 goals and 33 assists. Following this, Atletico signed him in 2018, but he has struggled to make the same impact at the club.
A swap deal involving Lacazette and Lemar would be ill-advised for Arsenal
They are already staring at the prospect of losing out their most prolific goalscorer in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The 30-year-old is entering the final year of his contract and talks over a new deal have come to a halt, with the Arsenal captain now closer to an exit. At such a juncture, they could ill-afford to allow Lacazette as well.
Lacazette joined Arsenal in the summer of 2017 in a £46.5m deal and has grown into a key member of the team. The former Olympique Lyon academy graduate has made 114 appearances for the Gunners, bagging 45 goals and 21 assists so far.
The £182k-a-week star hasn’t had the most productive of season in 2019/20, producing a return of just 9 goals and 3 assists in 26 matches. However, his tally of 19 goals and 13 assists in 49 matches last season indicates the quality he brings to the team.
Allowing him to leave in exchange for a player who has struggled for form and confidence in the last two years would be foolhardy by Arsenal. Lemar has managed just 3 goals last season and is yet to score or assist a single goal this season. The fact that he has started just 9 La Liga matches shows how poor he has been.
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Verdict
Arsenal are already staring at the prospect of losing star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. At such a time, allowing Lacazette to leave would be a move wrought with risk for the Gunners. And in exchange for Lemar, who has been in woeful form in the last two years, would be ill-advised.
