Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (right) celebrates scoring his side’s second goal of the game with Alexandre Lacazette during the Premier League match at the Cardiff City Stadium. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
The partnership works
The fans got what they wanted, and boy did it work.
Ever since Unai Emery took charge, they have been calling for Lacazette and Aubameyang to be started together. In fact, Lacazette had yet to start a match this season, because it was too difficult to remove Aubameyang from the equation. However, the answer may be to start them both together. When you have two of the greatest strikers in Europe, why shouldn’t you?
This was Emery’s plan today, as Lacazette made his first appearance from the bench, shifting Aubameyang out wide. Both of them headed into the match without a goal for the season, and both of them headed out of the match with a goal to their names. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
Aubameyang and Lacazette have a fearful connection. Despite being together for under a year, they have a partnership that most strikers could only dream of. This was never thought to be the case when Aubameyang joined the club, as his ego-driven behavior at Borussia Dortmund raised a few questions marks. But two egos clashing couldn’t be sweeter for the Arsenal faithful.
Against Cardiff, it was Lacazette who picked up the man of the match award. He provided Aubameyang with the assist, before firing home himself to break the deadlock once more. It was a perfect finish into the top of the net, from a difficult angle.
Aubameyang’s goal was also impressive. He’s never been known for his ability to pull the goals out of nowhere, but he’s been doing this for Arsenal. He’s more commonly known for picking out the right space, making it more easier to score than miss, but his goal yesterday was a sublime finish from further out.
#AFC</a> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/09/03/three-things-arsenal-learned-late-win-cardiff-city/2/"https://t.co/0EhM3tLp9Y">pic.twitter.com/0EhM3tLp9Y
<p>— Kian (@KianLSport) <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/09/03/three-things-arsenal-learned-late-win-cardiff-city/2/"https://twitter.com/KianLSport/status/1036250550159978496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>September 2, 2018</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://playingfor90.com/2018/09/03/three-things-arsenal-learned-late-win-cardiff-city/2/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Aubameyang and Lacazette have a fearful connection. Despite being together for under a year, they have a partnership that most strikers could only dream of. This was never thought to be the case when Aubameyang joined the club, as his ego-driven behavior at Borussia Dortmund raised a few questions marks. But two egos clashing couldn’t be sweeter for the Arsenal faithful.</p>
<p>Against Cardiff, it was Lacazette who picked up the man of the match award. He provided Aubameyang with the assist, before firing home himself to break the deadlock once more. It was a perfect finish into the top of the net, from a difficult angle.</p>
<p>Aubameyang’s goal was also impressive. He’s never been known for his ability to pull the goals out of nowhere, but he’s been doing this for Arsenal. He’s more commonly known for picking out the right space, making it more easier to score than miss, but his goal yesterday was a sublime finish from further out.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/09/03/three-things-arsenal-learned-late-win-cardiff-city/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Lucas Torreira needs to start </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_460661" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-460661" src=https://playingfor90.com/2018/09/03/three-things-arsenal-learned-late-win-cardiff-city/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F1026146522-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">CARDIFF, WALES – SEPTEMBER 02: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal speaks to Lucas Torreira of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Arsenal FC at Cardiff City Stadium on September 2, 2018 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h3>Lucas Torreira needs to start</h3>
<p>One of the main positives heading out of this game was Torreira’s performance from the bench. Watching him closely, I don’t think he even put a foot wrong.</p>
<p>He came into the match and reassured the fans, as every bit of action surrounding him was patched up. He also proved that he was not just a defensive minded player, as he grabbed the match-winning assist courtesy of a perfect through ball to Alexandre Lacazette.</p>
<div class="related-category right">
<div class="related-main-title">More from <span class="related-name">Arsenal FC</span></div>
<ul>
<li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/09/03/three-things-arsenal-learned-late-win-cardiff-city/2/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/08/12/arsenal-season-opener/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Gunners do just enough to claim victory in season opener</a>
</li>
<li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/09/03/three-things-arsenal-learned-late-win-cardiff-city/2/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/07/28/arsenal-bottled-dont-care/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Arsenal: We bottled it but I don’t care</a>
</li>
<li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/09/03/three-things-arsenal-learned-late-win-cardiff-city/2/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/07/15/arsenal-complete-record-deal-declan-rice/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Arsenal complete record deal for Declan Rice</a>
</li>
<li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/09/03/three-things-arsenal-learned-late-win-cardiff-city/2/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/07/02/arsenal-transfers/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Arsenal splurges on transfers as they aim to collect silverware</a>
</li>
<li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/09/03/three-things-arsenal-learned-late-win-cardiff-city/2/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/06/29/arsenal-complete-signing-kai-havertz/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Arsenal complete the signing of Kai Havertz</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>He is yet to start a match, but yesterday’s performance will do nothing to hurt his case. He looks to start his first match after the international break, and I’m sure that his cameo against Cardiff City will still be fresh in the mind of Unai Emery.</p>
<p>Many Arsenal fans are calling for him to be starting ahead of Xhaka. The Swiss international was thought to have a bad game yesterday, with many claiming that Torreira did more in his short period of time than Xhaka did throughout the match. Xhaka got the opening assist, but also looked frail on the ball at times.</p>
<p>Torreira is the one defensive minded midfielder which Arsenal have at their disposal. It’s no wonder why they have looked susceptible to being caught out, and have yet to keep a clean sheet this season. Whenever Torreira has been on the pitch, the midfield has looked much more reassured and composed on the ball, with a purpose to move forward whenever possible.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Unai Emery will start playing ugly football to get wins" data-url="https://playingfor90.com/2018/09/02/arsenal-unai-emery-will-start-playing-ugly-football-get-wins/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/09/03/three-things-arsenal-learned-late-win-cardiff-city/2/"https://playingfor90.com/2018/09/02/arsenal-unai-emery-will-start-playing-ugly-football-get-wins/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Unai Emery will start playing ugly football to get wins </a> </div>
</div>
<p>Do you think Lucas Torreira can walk straight into this Arsenal side?</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
