“Congratulations, you’ve just taken your first step, into a larger world,” Obi-Wan Kenobi told Luke Skywalker on Tattoine. This famous line comes to mind as you read what striker Alexandre Lacazette had to say about his move from Lyon to Arsenal this summer. On July 5th, he became the most expensive player acquired in Arsenal Football Club history, with the 27th highest transfer fee (inflation adjusted) in overall history.
The £46.5 million price tag could reach £52 million in add-ons, and that kind of money brings HUGE expectations, especially at a high profile club with rabid and starved for success supporters.
“It’s very different to Lyon, so it’s up to me to adapt as quickly as possible and repay the faith shown in me,” Alexandre Lacazette is quoted in French publication Le Figaro.
“I really have the impression I have moved into another world, be it in terms of the players, the technical staff, the football, everything is different. That’s what I came here for. I have to adapt and do that as quickly as possible.”
“It’s a great league, lots of teams. I don’t think there are any small teams because even against the smallest clubs it’s difficult. I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes this season,” he said.
“I think I had done everything [in France]. I was happy to finish on a high at Lyon. Now, it’s up to me to write my story here.”
Lacazette played 275 matches and scored 129 goals in all competitions for Olympique Lyonnais during his seven years at the club. His best season came in 2014–15 when he was Ligue 1’s top scorer with 27 goals in 33 games, and also the UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year. It shows a lot of proper perspective and overall maturity that he now sees the time is right to move up in proverbial weight class from France Ligue 1 to English Premier League.
His manager and countryman Arsene Wenger says the highlight of the Gunners summer transfer window is going to need some time to adjust though, and it’s likely going to take a “few months” for him to truly realize his potential.
“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.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV.
Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn and YouTube.