Southampton 3-2 Arsenal: 5 Talking Points

#4 The contrasting tales of Lacazette and Özil

Lacazette was dangerous yet again when introduced, which begs the question - why did he not start?

Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Özil both started as Arsenal enjoyed a slender, yet comfortable 1-0 win over Qarabag on Thursday evening.

With their place in the Europa League knockout rounds already confirmed, it was an ideal opportunity to ease some returning faces back into the fray - Özil and Laurent Koscielny, who we'll discuss in detail later.

The silky German has been regularly sidelined through injury this season and when not, has too found himself on the substitutes' bench. Özil and Lacazette combined for the Gunners' solitary goal on Thursday before both being replaced - unsurprising with an eye on this game to come.

Lacazette replaced Hector Bellerín (muscle) at the half-time interval and made a considerable impact. Linking up well, working tenaciously out of possession and trying to build-up play with urgency in-and-around the final third, it was his relentless energy which helped create Arsenal's second goal.

On another day, the result would've been completely different. He did more than an out-of-sorts Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could wish for.

As for Özil though, fans and critics alike remain torn.

Mesut continues to divide opinion with his performances - cameos under Emery are not helping the cause

For someone so talented, you never know what you're going to get from him - whether he's in an inspired mood and plays very well, or appears to drift out of the game and doesn't show the burning desire everyone constantly expects.

Here, he was scapegoated after relinquishing possession in the build-up to Austin's headed finish late on. Yet no-one wants to talk about how he created two chances nor provided more of the attacking fluidity the visitors longed for upon his introduction. Why is that? This type of coverage and over-exaggerated scrutiny is getting tedious now.