Bukayo Saka has shown how he can take over from Alexandre Lacazette at Arsenal next season

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Arsenal's last two games have felt significant in the top-four race with Bukayo Saka, in particular, perhaps providing a glimpse into life without Alexandre Lacazette next season.

Heading into Wednesday's London derby against Chelsea on the back of three successive defeats, the Gunners surprised many by leaving Stamford Bridge with 4-2 win and then followed that up by beating Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon to open up a six point gap between the two sides.

Interestingly, those wins were achieved without Lacazette. Against Chelsea, the reason for his absence was fitness-related after he had tested positive for Covid-19, but he was an unused substitute in the win over United as Eddie Nketiah was rewarded for his brace at the Bridge with another start.

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Amid links to the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Cody Gakpo ahead of the summer transfer window, it would appear that Arsenal are planning for life without the Frenchman, whose contract expires at the end of the season, and he's already understood to be in talks with other clubs over his next move.

But whilst one of the aforementioned pair could replace Lacazette as the main striker in Mikel Arteta's system next season - if they