Does Alexandre Lacazette's recent form make a new contract a must?

Does Alexandre Lacazette's recent form make a new contract a must?

Well, what were we all worried about?

For a club that never tends to do things the easy way, particularly on tricky away trips, Thursday night's thumping win over Slavia Prague was confusingly yet thrillingly straightforward.

Arsenal were a joy to watch from the outset and the only frustration was that we have not seen more performances of this ilk this season.

At the heart of it all was Alexandre Lacazette, who continued his post-Christmas renaissance with a sparkling display up front.

The Frenchman's brace took his tally for the season to 17 - 12 of which have been scored since Boxing Day - and he is the club's top scorer this campaign.

Having been heralded as a key off-field influence on Arsenal's wealth of young talent, Lacazette is now matching that impact on the field and performances like Thursday night's put him in a strong position when he meets Mikel Arteta at the contract table at the end of the season.

The striker's current deal runs out next summer and his recent performances are presenting the hierarchy with a tricky dilemma.

They only have to look at Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang's form to see the potential perils of giving a player in his 30s - as Lacazette will be by the time his contract ends - a big-money new deal.

But at this moment in time, with Arsenal's other strikers primarily of the 'talented but raw' variety, his experience and quality appears necessary.

He is certainly in Arteta's good books and the manager was full of praise for his in-form frontman following the 4-0 win in the Czech capital.

"In big moments and in key matches you need players and senior players who have this experience to make a difference for you," he said.

"For me in his style and his development, even though he’s 29, 30 years old, he’s on the right path because he’s ready to learn, he’s doing things in a much better way than before and he really glues the team together.

"It shows the personality that Laca is that he missed two big chances in the home game and then you have to see that reaction.

"That reaction could be with some fear, or some doubt or feeling a little bit guilty, and the other one is to have a strong personality and react and say ‘ok now I'm going to put them in the back of the net.’

"He’s done that consecutively in two games. He’s been really efficient and his momentum continues, the form that he’s in continues and he’s really important for the team."

Strong words indeed - particularly the reference to 'gluing the team together', which again shows how Lacazette's influence within the squad extends beyond the 90 minutes on the field.

He will no doubt be in demand this summer, as he was last when Atletico Madrid were among those showing interest, and Arsenal may have to act quickly if they are to avoid losing a player whose best times in an Arsenal shirt may still be to come.

Former Gunners boss Unai Emery will currently be plotting the best way to stop him in his tracks when Arsenal meet Villareal in the Europa League semi-finals - matches which will add some real excitement towards the end of a largely stale campaign.

Silverware remains up for grabs and an in-form Lacazette will be crucial to Arsenal's chances of lifting it.