Lautaro Martinez must find the right “partner in crime” to power Inter Milan’s attack between Marko Arnautovic and Marcus Thuram.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews.

This summer, Inter said goodbye to two strikers from last season – Edin Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku.

Arnautovic and Thuram arrived to replace the duo.

But one player who remained constant leading the line for the Nerazzurri is new captain Martinez.

The Argentine has been his team’s top scorer in each of the past two seasons, notching more than twenty goals in Serie A on each occasion. And he got off to a flying start against Monza, scoring both of his team’s goals in a 2-0 win.

If Martinez’s brace confirmed that he’ll be Inter’s shining light in attack, however, the evidence for who his first-choice partner will be was more inconclusive.

Lautaro Martinez Must Find “Partner In Crime” At Inter Between Arnautovic & Thuram

Summer signing Thuram started yesterday against Monza alongside Martinez.

The Frenchman did show some evidence of a burgeoning understanding with the Inter captain.

However, none of the pair’s linkup play led to any goals or assists, or in truth, concrete chances.

Thuram – as he had done in preseason – looked threatening when he dropped deeper. But as he got closer to the penalty area, the 26-year-old failed to really spark anything with Martinez.

The pair found each other on numerous occasions, but didn’t put anything on a plate for one another.

When Arnautovic came onto the pitch, he gave the Nerazzurri a very different set of attributes in attack.

The Austrian hardly has the pace or technical skill on the ball of Thuram.

But Arnautovic was not signed for any of that. Inter brought the former West Ham United and Stoke City striker in to provide a tall, physical reference point in attack.

And the 34-year-old showed that he can be just that.

Arnautovic looked assured as he held the play up. His passing radar already looked like it was starting to fit into this Inter side.

Most importantly, the Austrian looked like he had a sense of chemistry with Martinez near the area.

Arnautovic’s assist for his new strike partner’s second goal was evidence of that.