Albion will come up against a French star looking for the season of his life tomorrow.

And one onlooker in Paris will be hoping that does not result in a powerful, goal-laden performance against the Seagulls.

Alexandre Lacazette is six games and four goals into a season which could see him edge above club-mate Olivier Giroud in the minds, hearts and pecking order of the French.

The big money signing has moved out of his comfort zone after leaving his only previous club, Lyon, in the summer. He is likely to start ahead of Giroud against Albion.

But that state of affairs has raised eyebrows back home where Giroud remains the preferred pick of national team boss Didier Deschamps.

Now Deschamps has warned Giroud, 30, he needs to up his game time in the Premier League to keep his preferred place with Les Bleus.

Meanwhile Lazacette, forced to find a new level, is developing his game in a way which did not look likely amid the home comforts of Lyon.

Exiled Albion fan Darren Tulett, a former North Stander at the Goldstone who is now a well known TV presenter in France, can see the threat coming the way of the stripes at the Emirates.

He told The Argus: “This could be the move that changes everything for Lacazette. A move abroad helps certain players develop their game.

“Lacazette was always the main man at Lyon and the team played for him. The danger with that is a player can rest on his laurels.

“The feeling in France was that there was more to come from Lacazette, that he was playing within himself at Lyon. At Arsenal he has to up his game just to survive.

“He has great movement away from the ball. He is very sharp. He is a smart guy. This is a big season for him to push himself on. But France have such riches in attack.”

The Argus:

France striker Olivier Giroud battles with Shane Duffy at Euro 2016

Lacazette, 26, has only one international goal to his name so far.

It came against Denmark on a night when some fans at the game in St Etienne booed him due to his strong allegiance with their arch rivals Lyon.

Meanwhile Giroud, with 27 goals, is one of the talismanic figures of the national side, for now at least.

Tulett, from Shoreham, still recalls being ordered, along with other young fans, to remove his Doc Marten boots as a rather basic security measure ahead of the first meeting between the clubs on the opening day of the 1979-80 season.

That was along the pavement on Old Shoreham Road before going on to the terrace.

The Emirates will offer a very different environment and he will be following with interest from afar.

He said: “Deschamps spoke on Thursday about Giroud.

“Basically, he put out a warning about game time because he is not playing much in the Premier League.

“Obviously he played in the Europa League and scored his 100th goal for the club “But Deschamps likes his players to be playing for their clubs.

“He is in the squad and he has done everything right when he has been picked for France.

“Deschamps has felt able to do without Karim Benzema and he will not turn back now.”

Giroud’s goals have proved his worth for France – as has his role as a foil for star man Antoine Griezmann.

By contrast, the rapport between Griezmann and Lacazette tends to be off the pitch.

They are best mates and spent time together on holiday in the USA this summer.

Tulett said: “Last Spring, we thought Lacazette would join Griezmann at Atletico Madrid but then came their transfer embargo.

“He was apparently very close to joining and they spoke publicly about linking up.”

Instead Giroud and Lacazette are both lining up trouble for Albion – with club, national team and personal ambitions very much in their thoughts.