Eddie Nketiah did not score but he did a lot of other things; running in behind, coming short to hold the ball up, hustling, and generally making a nuisance of himself.
Sky Sports said that Nketiah was the best player on the pitch, even though it was the defensive resilience that pulled them through at the London Stadium on Sunday.
By the end of the game, the 22-year-old had taken more shots, attempted more passes, had more touches, and made more ball recoveries than Lacazette has done all season.
A player who hadn't started a game in the league in a year suddenly looks to be crucial to their hopes of a top-four finish.
What happens after that remains to be seen. Nketiah is nearing the end of his contract with the club and they have been unsuccessful in their attempts to keep him.
He is making an important contribution to the here and now.
His performance on the other side of London on Sunday was arguably even better than the one he had on the other side of Stamford Bridge.
Jamie Redknapp said that Nketiah's willingness to stretch West Ham's defence gave them a "different dimension", one which was most evident during the second half, when West Ham were chasing the game.
Nketiah was up against a formidable opponent in Kurt Zouma but he caused the West Ham centre-back major problems, timing his runs in behind and showing speed, strength and composure to carry the ball forward and get his shots off.
He could not quite find the finishes to match the approach play, firing inches wide on one occasion and seeing Lukasz Fabianski block him on two others, but the chances showed exactly what the team lacked without a player of his type leading the line.
According to Opta, it was only the second game of the season in which the north London club have had more than one shot from a fast break.
Jamie Redknapp: "Nketiah has given Arsenal a different dimension.You need to stretch teams and that is what Nketiah does. He gives the team a release."
Graeme Souness: “He’s put himself in the shop window. If that is his general standard, he will not be short of teams wanting to take him.”
Alan Smith: "Nketiah’s emergence has come just at the right time for Arsenal because Alexandre Lacazette looked like he’d done all he could do this season. To come in and do what he’s done is fantastic.”
Lacazette made an important contribution during the upturn in form which followed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's exile from the side in December, providing a string of assists and linking the play effectively in the middle of the field.
The influence he had between the lines and a player who lacked the pace and dynamism to cause problems in behind made him struggle to affect games.
Nketiah gave the team something different when they needed it and he has also shown an ability to play with his back to goal and hold the ball up.
While his second-half performance at the London Stadium was all about stretching West Ham and creating counter-attacking chances, his first-half display, against a much deeper defence, showed he is also capable of doing the things Arteta was previously asking of Lacazette.
Alan Smith said on Sky Sports that his hold up play has got better.
Nketiah won eight of the 10 games he has played since December, and his touch map showed his contribution all over the pitch. His total of 24 sprints was far higher than any player on either side.
Nketiah appears to have an edge on Lacazette in many areas.
In addition to covering more ground than his teammate, the youngster averages more shots, creates more chances and makes more touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes.
Arteta said in December that he would like Nketiah to stay at the club. The recent impact does beg questions over how little he used him before that.
Arteta told Sky Sports last week that he would like to give more minutes to the players who haven't had enough.
The players need to understand that if someone else is playing, it is for a reason. This is football, not tennis. It is a team sport.
You know that you will go through these periods. It is about how you try to change them.
Nketiah's attitude has never been in doubt and Sunday's clash with Leeds is a reminder that this is not the first time Arteta has let a player go.
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He returned to Elland Road in January after only starting two league games in four months, instead of the season he was hoping for.
It's understandable that Nketiah wants a bigger role for himself now that he's been a bit-part player for a while.
Arteta said that he wants to play more football and that it was nothing to do with anything else.
He has recently offered to play for the club, but it seems like he won't start as often as he would like in the long-term. Nketiah knows that at least one new forward is going to arrive during the summer with Lacazette out of contract.
A strong finish to the season could convince him to stay and fight for his place. Arteta might decide to build his attack around Nketiah.
He will leave if he does, because he has shown what they lacked up front. Between now and the end of the season, more of the same, and they will be grateful for his contribution.
Sky Sports will show the game between the two teams from 1pm and 2pm on Sunday.
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