It's many fans assessment that we have possibly the worst back up striking options in the league. Only by having the best striker in the league have we managed to survive but the guy will need to be given a break at some stage When you compare our options not only to the mega rich clubs but teams like Aston Villa, Fulham, Stoke, etc. Chamakh has had far too many chances to regain his form that was clearly a fluke, Park can't even make the bench for Premier League games. If we are to have any chance of making the top 4 we need at least 1 quality striker who can make instant impact. Benzema would be perfect but highly unlikely. What other options might we have? * André-Pierre Gignac - Struggling in Marseille but has obvious quality * Loïc Rémy - Dubbed the "New Henry" he has some similar characteristics * Moussa Sow - Linked last summer, played with Gervinho and Lile failed to qualify for the Champions League next stage Any other likely targets???
We did in the Champion's League the year we got to the final. We played 5 across the middle and 1 up top - Henry played up top. We played that way the following year with Adebayor being the lone striker.
we need a HENRY without the glaring and intimidation of the young lesser players. We were soon better without him.
Forgot about Podolski, alot of buzz that we are very interested in making a move a despite playing for a team close to his heart he'd possibly be open to a move. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lukas_Podolski The only way we could survive without a new forward is if an attacking player was brought and Theo was given a run up there but that'd be a gamble
I'm unsure of Loic Remy. He's good, and he can play as a winger, but i'm not sure if he's good enough. Don't want Gignac, too fat, and has an attitude problem, and Sow is worth 20 million. Podolski is the best bet, but i was thinking someone like Demba Ba. say what you want, the guy knows how to score goals.
Benzema and Remy would be the only two that I would consider, Gignac is rubbish, he cant keep a starting position in Marseille and he has an attitude so he the last player we would need, Sow on the other hand just seems average as a player he reminds of Demba ba but not as good a finisher. Benzema is class but I highly doubt Real would sell him as he's their first choice striker, Remy is a realistic option and he definitely seems talented, he was arguably the best player they had when Marseille played against us.
Chamakh - a man who can't buy a goal at the moment. Park - just moved to English football, hasn't done anything at all, no guarantee he will even make the grade. Gervinho - finishing looks awful, squanderer extraordinaire of chances. Walcott - I hope to see him get a chance to play there, our best hope at the club in that position imo. Arshavin - you what John ???
Chamakh and Gervinho are going to the ACON so we will miss them for a number of games (Chamakh I’m sorry to say is not clinical whatsoever, Park does not look comfortable at all and I don’t think he is someone we can rely on, Walcott could do a job upfront but I could see him taking some time to get used to the role and Arshavin is not a good option considering how poor he has been the last two seasons.
We don't need "top" strikers, what we need are players who know how to put the ball in the back of the onion !! Take Demba Ba for example ... he did it at a poor West Ham last season and he is doing it at an average Newcastle this season. Not a "top" striker in anyone's imagination but you don't have to be a top player to do a job and Ba is doing the business in the Premier League at present. Remy could play the Henry role perfectly, he seems to be a clone of him. It is bizarre some people say Arsenal play a different style of football now, well, we played a different style of football BEFORE Henry. You either play to your team's strengths or you pick a team for a style you want to play. The latter will always be fraught with issues especially when key personnel are not available, surely it is best to play to the strengths of the individuals.
If we add it HAS to be a world class addition. A few options: 1. Neymar - He's ridiculously good. Will be up there with Messi and Ronaldo but is arrogant and will cost a small fortune. Already strongly linked with Real Madrid. Unlikley but Wenger has stated that if he could signs neymar he would. 2. Higuiane - Out of favour at Real Madrid who are no currently playing Benzema. (well we all know Jose will only ever play one striker at a time) Still only 24 and has a better than 1 in 2 goalscoring record. The guy is absolute class. 3. Benzema - When Madrid bought him Wenger admitted "had he known Lyon would be willing to sell, he would have put an offer in himself" .If Neymar does arrive or if Higuaine forces his way back into the starting 11, Benzema could again find himself on the bench. We get linked to him EVERY transfer window so therer must be something in it. Great player that would link up well with RVP. 4. Podolski - another player we get frequently linked to. Can play anywhere across the front three. Never been prolific but wenger could turn him into a world beater. Lots of ability and a cannon of a left foot. 5. Tevez - There's no denying the guy is world class. Can also play anywhere across the front three and has a habit of scoring in the big games. Will be after big wages and comes with baggage. 6. Torres - Class is permanent, form is temporary. I cant see Chelsea letting him go yet.
Arshavin - the laziest man on earth. If he was anymore lethargic he'd be alseep. Gervinho - never seen him play don the middle. Also at ACON. Walcott - no experience playing in this position at the top level. Can he hold the ball up well enough? Park - not played a single EPL game for us. Looked poor in the League Cup LOL seriously?? The difference here is top quality players who have actual experience playing down the middle. Man City - Aguero, Balotelli, Dzeko (all down the middle). Still have Tevez and Adebayor on their books. That's five proven goalscorers. Real Madrid - Benzema, Ronaldo, Higuaine again all proven goalscorers who can play centrally. Manchester United - Hernandez, Berbatov, Rooney, Wellbeck. Barcelona - Messi, David Villa, Pedro. Chelsea - Drogba, Anelka, Torres, Romelu Lukaku.
Either we're going to attempt to challenge or not. I think its essential to have at least TWO top class proven strikers who can play down the middle. Chamakh has shown he's not of the required standard (not a bad player though but you can see why Bordeaux mainly played him on the right rather than down the middle) Our situation would'nt be soo bad if it was'nt for the fact that RVP is soo injury prone. We know he will miss games, It would be nice to have top class cover.
To me, Podolski looks the best option. Can play on the left so he can be rotated with Gervinho and RvP. Arshavin can then be sold.