Alexandre Lacazette's 2019/20 hasn't been impressive by anybody's standards. Not his, not Arsenal's and not the fans. That being said, what may be overlooked when assessing the Frenchman's season is how it was halted before it even begun.

Through the year he has looked off the pace. Not bursting in behind defences like he used to, failing to effectively drive the side forward on the counter and relying heavily upon his play with back to goal, Lacazette became predictable very quickly.

Rewinding back to pre-season, however, is where the answer for this drastic drop off from his Player of the Year campaign in 2018/19.

Having completed the US Tour, Arsenal returned to Emirates Stadium in late July. There, they welcomed Lyon. For Lacazette - facing his boyhood club - that should have been the perfect day. Unfortunately for him and Arsenal, it was far from that.

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With a minute on the clock, he stretched to bring the ball down in a packed box. Upon doing so, the 28-year-old received a knock and doubled over immediately holding the lower half of his leg. Hobbling in the aftermath, he wasn't able to burst onto a Joe Willock pass into the final third, much to the frustration of those around him.

After four minutes had gone, he was sat on the touchline receiving treatment. Back on he went and although he appeared to be moving more freely, the stiffness returned quickly and he was off after 12 minutes. Arsenal took the lead but lost after Moussa Dembele's second half double and after the game, Lacazette was seen leaving the Emirates in the protective boot for what was later found out to be an ankle injury.

Back starting by the second week in the season, the setback seemed to be pretty minor. Lacazette was scoring, linking play well and had the presence up top which made him so popular in his first two seasons at the club. During an outstanding display in September's North London Derby, however, that ankle injury flared up again.

This time rather than just having to miss one game before returning, the Frenchman was out for six weeks. Coming back as quickly as he did after Lyon, with his style of play, aggravating that ankle injury was bound to happen. Given six weeks to recover after Tottenham may have seemed like enough time but being ran into the ground after returning at Bramall Lane in October would have taken its toll.

Playing 13 of the 17 games between Sheffield United away and Chelsea at home [Arsenal's last game of 2019], he was visibly burnt out. With more emphasis put on the work done from the frontline off the ball when Mikel Arteta arrived, that continued into 2020. Even though he was able to fulfil that part of his role well, with that being such an energy-sapping task and already trying to recover from that ankle injury, should it really have been a surprise when Lacazette looked exhausted on the break?

Although their injuries were much more severe, Rob Holding and Hector Bellerin are proof of just how detrimental joint injuries can be for players and Arsenal's hitman is no different.

There's no escaping that he had chances to end his goal drought before he did against Newcastle but since returning from the winter break he has looked much more like the Lacazette Gunners remember. It hasn't been an instant transition back to form as there have been occasions in both legs against Olympiacos where he still appeared rusty.

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Coming on against West Ham that was the case for his first few touches but after that he really seemed to be back in his groove. Not only did he score but he was finding the right pockets of space at the right times, hitting passes accurately and engaging defenders when he needed to. The fact he did this all at pace was what set this performances apart from others the most.

Of course, the timing of this enforced break has halted Lacazette's season once more and - similarly to the Spurs injury - seemingly at the worst time possible. Whenever football does return, he'll have to find that rhythm again and whether that comes immediately or gradually, only time will tell.

But when looking at his 2019/20 as it stands, there is no question that there will be disappointment. What must come with that disappointment is understanding how those early setbacks affected him throughout the campaign and why he was struggling so much.