Alexandre Lacazette is convinced he has found what he was looking for after making his £52million switch to Arsenal.
The French striker scored his second goal of pre-season after making his first home start as an Arsenal player in Sunday’s 2-1 Emirates Cup defeat to Sevilla, a poacher’s finish at the back post after a barrelling run down the right from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Lacazette was given a generous reception by his new home crowd on both days at the Emirates Cup and offered hints to why manager Arsene Wenger eventually overcame his doubts over the French international and agreed to part with a club record fee.
However the 26-year-old admitted that he faces a major step-up after his move from Ligue 1 to England.
“Everything has changed,” Lacazette said. “I felt that I was entering a new world. In terms of the players, the technical staff, the football… everything is different.
“That’s what I was looking for. It is I who needs to adapt as soon as possible.
“Everything is different. It’s bigger, goes faster, stronger… it’s good. It’s a great league with lots of teams. In my opinion there is no small team.
“Even against the smallest one it’s not always easy. I can’t wait to see how the season goes.”
Lacazette, who contrary to some reports after full-time did not depart the Sevilla match with an injury, combined particularly encouragingly with right wing-back Hector Bellerin during the defeat, though both looked some way short of match sharpness.
Wenger admitted that it may take some time for Lacazette to settle into his new surroundings – though club captain Per Mertesacker has vowed to do all he can to help – but was encouraged by his record signing’s instinctive goal.
“It’s very difficult, because sometimes it takes a few months, sometimes very little time,” Wenger said. “The only thing I must say with Lacazette, week after week he looks to adapt quickly but overall I think it will take him one or two months.
“He is in the right place. To score goals is to be in the right place when the cross comes in and he has that quality.”
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