Alexandre Lacazette shows Chelsea the value of a no-nonsense No 9

Arsenal’s tireless centre-forward made himself the decisive figure on a field full of silky attackers toiling in ill-suited roles

Sometimes it’s hard to be a striker. Or a No 9. Or a nine and a half. Or a fluid high-pressing false 11.

There were six forwards of varying types on show as this match kicked off. None of them were your orthodox, meat-and-potatoes centre forward – although Eden Hazard did make a dutiful attempt at standing with his back to goal while the ball sailed over his head, taking to the central role with all the refined disdain of a concert violinist making ends meet by delivering flat-pack furniture out of the back of a truck.

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