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Lukaku, Lacazette and Morata: Who is the best striker?

By Michael Okeje
21 July 2017   |   1:30 pm
The 2017/2018 Premier League season already promises to be an exciting one as the top clubs have bolstered their attacks with some of the best strikers in the world. Chelsea's recent capture of Alvaro Morata will only make the competition for the highest goal scorer award for next season more exciting as other top teams…

The 2017/2018 Premier League season already promises to be an exciting one as the top clubs have bolstered their attacks with some of the best strikers in the world.

Chelsea’s recent capture of Alvaro Morata will only make the competition for the highest goal scorer award for next season more exciting as other top teams have agreed some big name deals. Manchester United have signed Romelu Lukaku, the second-best striker in the league last season and Arsenal acquired Alexandre Lacazette, second top scorer in the French Lique 1.

We expect to see a lot of goals next season from the likes of Harry Kane, Sergio Aguero and Alexis Sanchez but we look at what the new signings can bring to the EPL.

ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE

Arsenal player Alexandre Lacazette celebrates after scoring for his first goal for Arsenal in his first match during their football friendly against Sydney FC played in Sydney on July 13, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / WILLIAM WEST

Age: 26

2016/2017 Ligue 1 season
Appearances 30
Goals 27
Chances created 46
Shots accuracy 65%

 

Ngolo Kante on Lacazette:

I know him from the national team and from what he did in the French league,’ Kante told the Evening Standard

He is a very good player who has scored more than 20 goals every season for the last few seasons in Ligue 1. He is a good player and a good addition for Arsenal.

‘He’s a goalscorer, clever with the ball and when he has a chance he has a gift for finishing well. He will be a good addition for Arsenal.’

 

Robert Pires on Lacazette’s comparisons with Arsenal legend, Ian Wright.

“I hope [it’s true] for Alexandre Lacazette because everyone knows Ian Wright was a very good player. I hope Lacazette follows the same way,”

“I think he is a little bit similar, he’s a striker, he’s fast, he has good ability, and he has scored a lot of goals with Olympique Lyonnais.

“Now, of course, he is not in the same team, he doesn’t have the same partner, he isn’t in the same country, and it isn’t the same football – everything has changed around him so. But I think he is a very good signing.”

 

ALVARO MORATA

Alvaro Morata PHOTO: AFP

Age: 24

2016/2017 La Liga season
Appearances 26
Goals 15
Chances created 17

 

 

Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian UK on Morata.

Morata is clearly hugely gifted. He is decent in the air, mobile and looks the part. He impressed at Juventus as well as Real Madrid, which should offer encouragement about his capacity to thrive in different environments against varying styles of defending. He has played in three of the past four Champions League finals, scoring in one of them. At 24, he is used to the rhythms and pressures of playing for an elite club.

 

Aitor Karanka on Morata.

“He’s in the Spanish national team, Chelsea are signing a really good player with a lot of potential. He is a really good kid who is always looking to grow.

“I think he is perfect for the league because he is strong and powerful, he is good with the ball, good with the ball in the air and I think the most important thing for a young player is he wants to improve every single day.

“That’s the main thing that means he can be successful there.

“The most important thing for a player is to know the coach knows you and the coach wants you.

“Antonio knows him very well so he has the confidence of the coach.”

 

ROMELU LUKAKU

Romelo Lukaku #9 of Manchester United celebrates a goal from Anthony Martial #11 with Timothy Fosu-Mensah #24 and Henrikh Mkhitaryan #22 to take a 5-0 lead during the second half at StubHub Center on July 15, 2017 in Carson, California. Manchester United would win the match 5-2. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP

Age:  24

2016/2017 EPL season
Appearances 30
Goals 27
Chances created 46
Shots accuracy 65%

 

Carrick on Lukaku joining Manchester United

“The jump is massive,” Carrick told The Guardian UK.

“I found that myself coming from Tottenham. It’s a massive jump. You can’t really explain to people until they’ve gone through it. I’m sure he’ll find the same. But having Premier League experience is a massive bonus. He’ll know how things work week to week. It’s just about dealing with the pressure.”

“It’s early days. It’s one week’s training and 45 minutes against Galaxy so you can’t come to any conclusions. We know what he is all about, there are no surprises. We all know exactly what he brings and that is why he is here. He is not going to change his game because he has come here. He does what he does best and obviously he’s been brought here to score goals. I am pretty certain he will do that this season.”

Vincent Kompany on Lukaku

“I want him to do well – except for in a few games (against Manchester City) this season!” Kompany told ESPN.

“As long as we’re ahead of them, I’m happy for him to do really well.

“The one thing you get when you have Romelu is an incredible drive to improve and to score goals. It’s something really unique that I’ve been able to observe over the years because he’s been a player from Anderlecht, which is the same youth system where I come from and I’ve really followed his progress.

“The key thing with him is he believes he’s the best player in the world. It doesn’t matter whether he is or he isn’t, that’s the way he approaches every single training session, that’s the way he approaches every game.

“If you think you are the best you can never really be satisfied with yourself and therefore you always keep working harder and harder and that’s what he does. It’s a special player to have but there will be a lot of competition this season.”

 

 

 

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