Here’s are some examples of Einstein Rings...
https://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/einstein-rings/
And you are right. The alignment, as well as the focus,
needs to be right for us to see it. If we were in another
galaxy, we likely wouldn’t have seen this one, yet other
alignments could present themselves.
On occasion.
Now, if we could happen upon TWO such galactic gravity
lenses, with the right separation between them, and in
alignment and focus with us, then we might get to
see Four identical little Einstein Rings around an
Einstein Cross.
And see very, very far away indeed.
That’s why I challenge this "Einstein Cross" as what we should be seeing is a ring, or a blur, but four separately displayed images on 90° axes? What "lens" mechanism creates that? They toss off a spiral galaxy as an explanation, then blithely add the object being 4x displayed is actually FIVE TIMES more brilliant than any of the images for it to be so imaged. Say what? What is this super bright object? Something is not right here. Ad hoc explanations when pulled from thin vacuums don’t work.
The concept is fun, a natural telescope. The second lens would help greatly in power but also we are probably seeing the image inverted and reversed right now because of focal length. The second lens would turn it right side up in to proper perspective. lol