Arsenal should not be tempted by Atletico Madrid’s reported swap offer – opinion

Should Atletico Madrid fail in their pursuit of PSG record goalscorer Edinson Cavani, as has been reported by Sky Sports, it has been suggested the Spanish club will look to the Premier League to answer their goalscoring issues.

Sky Sports have further reported that the Madrid based club will target Arsenal’s French forward Alexandre Lacazette as an alternative with the possibility of former Gunners target Thomas Lemar heading in the opposite direction. However, Mikel Arteta should be cautious of losing his first-choice striker at a reduced rate based on Lemar’s form this season.

The 24-year-old French midfielder is out of favour at the Wanda Metropolitano, and manager Diego Simeone even admitted that Lemar “hasn’t lived up to expectations”. So far this season the winger has made 15 La Liga appearances without providing a goal or an assist, his worst attacking contribution in five years. It would be a massive gamble for Arsenal to take if they were to risk bringing the out of sorts Frenchman to north London.

Meanwhile, Lacazette is Arsenal’s second-highest scorer in the Premier League this campaign and has frequently led the line under Arteta. Although, the 28-year-old has not been as prolific this campaign relative to his previous two seasons at the Emirates Stadium. In the past, Lacazette has found the back of the net 14 and 13 times in the Premier League, while he may not hit double figures based on his current strike rate this term. Even so, his importance to the Gunners should out weight taking a risk in agreeing to a swap with Lemar.

If Arsenal are to let Lacazette go, they would be best off waiting until the end of the season, as opposed to scrambling for a replacement in attack. Should Atletico Madrid’s offer be too good to refuse, it might be sensible to ask the Spanish side to pay Lacazette’s fee in full and agree to a loan move for Lemar to see if Arteta can get the 24-year-old back to his best. In theory, he could start on the wing and allow top-scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to take up the role at the centre of the attacking trio. But an outright swap deal for the players would be a potentially reckless decision given Lemar’s lack of form.