Alexandre Lacazette is not overly concerned by the defensive mistakes Arsenal are making under Unai Emery, with the forward claiming the team are “learning like children” under the new manager and will improve sooner rather than later.
Arsenal recorded their second successive victory under Emery, and first away win, at Cardiff on Sunday but their performance was again marked by a jittery defensive display, with no one suffering more than Petr Cech. The goalkeeper made a hash of playing out from the back on several occasions, adding to the nervousness he has shown in that facet of his game since the start of the season.
There was not a great deal of assurance in front of Cech, either, with Arsenal lucky to concede only twice. In total, they have let in eight goals in four games under Emery, with his insistence on an aggressive and progressive style clearly taking some adjusting to from players who worked under Arsène Wenger for so long.
“We learn a lot but the manager says if we do this kind of thing [defensive mistakes] we can concede a goal,” said Lacazette, who scored Arsenal’s winner in the 3-2 victory at Cardiff. “We did make mistakes because we are learning, like children. So it is OK, it is good. We will be better week after week.
“Overall it has been good [under Emery] even though we had two losses. They were against the two champions of the past two seasons. The quality of the games, it is good. Everyone can take pleasure to watch us play.”
Arsenal have thrilled in attack under Emery and showed character at Cardiff, having twice been pegged back. The win was also important in light of Arsenal’s away struggles last season, when under Wenger they managed to win only four out of 19 league games on the road.
“This season we want to be better away and it was the first game we won and I hope it will the first of many until the last day of the season,” Lacazette said. “It is good and important to win away.”
It was the first time the Frenchman had started a game this season and he delivered an impressive display as the focal point of Arsenal’s attack. He set up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the second goal with a clever flick before scoring with a thumping near-post drive. The 27-year-old, who joined from Lyon for £52.7m in July 2017, is determined to show Emery he deserves to stay in the team.
“It is not because of one game that I will play every game – every day I have to work hard,” Lacazette said. “I am at one of the best clubs in the world and I know to be in the first XI is hard. I must keep fighting.”