Is there room for Aubameyang and Lacazette in the Arsenal starting XI?

Both started Arsenal’s first pre-season game

Arsenal have already been active in this summer’s transfer window, wrapping up deals for five players so far.

Unai Emery has brought in Bernd Leno, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Lucas Torreira have been brought in to help shore up the backline.

But the new Arsenal boss isn’t likely to make any additions up front. He’s inherited two top-class strikers in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.

Lacazette scored a respectable 14 league goals last season, despite struggling with injury. Aubameyang got 10 league goals in just 12 top-flight starts following his arrival in January.

Can Emery find room for the two of them in his Arsenal side?

Space out wide

Emery’s previous sides have usually played in a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 system, with just one central striker.

But Arsene Wenger occasionally played the Gabon international wide on the left towards the end of his reign. His speed allows him to cut inside from the flank with menace, while also creating space for Lacazette to operate up front.

Unai Emery started with that set-up in the first game of his reign in North London last weekend. National League side Boreham Wood weren’t testing opposition, but Aubameyang hit a hat-trick within 17 minutes. Lacazette got on the scoresheet too before a raft of half-time changes.

Try the diamond for size

If Emery wants to start both of them up front, a diamond formation could be well suited to the players at his disposal.

Arsenal have two excellent strikers, an abundance of central midfielders and playmakers, but no natural wingers.