Tag: striker

Arsenal taking Higuain Risk but it’s one Likely to Pay off

Arsenal are finally expected to seal the transfer of Real Madrid striker, Gonzalo Higuain, in the next couple of days but is he the top centre-forward that is badly needed at the Emirates or another overrated striker that could struggle to adapt to life in the Premier League?

Higuain undoubtedly has quality, the Argentinian clearly has all the attributes to be a success in England but there is also the nagging feeling that he is a player that has not quite fulfilled his potential, losing his way somewhat at the Bernabeu in the last few years when often having to settle for a place on the bench.

It is hoped he can rediscover his best form at Arsenal and be the man Arsene Wenger can build his frontline around next season, adding to the talents of Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski, and Theo Walcott.

Certainly, his goalscoring record is mightily impressive. Higuain has scored 107 La Liga goals in just 187 appearances following his move from River Plate in 2007, while a look at his international stats proves his form for Argentina has been equally as good – notching 20 goals in his 32 caps.

Higuain is a man who thrives on good service and, when presented with chances, he can take them but he is not the sort of player to create things for himself, rather someone who loves to see things off in and around the penalty area. In that respect,then, it looks like being an astute purchase.

You would expect the 25-year-old to enjoy working with Walcott, Santi Cazorla, and Mikel Arteta – the men who can provide the key passes for the striker to finish – while he does look like being the perfect foil for someone like Podolski, feeding on knock-downs and touches from the burly German star.

However, there must also be some doubts about Higuain, who has been allowed to leave Real with seemingly his best days still ahead of him and a player some say with a complex character who has proved difficult to get along with at times and not exactly the sort of team player needed at the Emirates.

The price of just over £20million breaks Arsenal’s transfer record but pundits on betfair.com rightly say that it is a £35-40million striker that is needed at the club if they are to push the Manchester clubs and Chelsea all the way for the title next term.

There are question marks, for sure, and, with most big-money deals, an element of risk is involved and it will be interesting to see if Higuain can adapt to the more physical side of the English game. His goalscoring record is first class and if he can maintain his game-to-goals ratio at the Emirates, everyone will be happy.

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Should Arsenal go back in for Kevin Gameiro?

There has been a lot of talk in the last month about Arsenal signing a top, top striker. The first players to be linked to the club were Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic and Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain. A deal for Higuain keeps looking on and off which has prompted even more media speculation about who else is on Arsene Wenger’s striker shopping list. Wayne Rooney and Robert Lewandowski have been two of the more expensive names thrown around but somebody who hasn’t been mentioned is PSG’s Kevin Gameiro who Arsene Wenger has been linked with many times before.

Wenger is a long time admirer of Kevin Gameiro from his time at Lorient where he announced himself as a pacey striker who knows how to finish. Since his arrival at PSG he has fallen down the pecking order because of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and has been limited to appearances off the bench and hasn’t been able to recapture his goalscoring ability because of that.

Because Gameiro is usually used as cover in the team now, Arsenal may be able to get him for around £5 Million. PSG may want to keep hold of him though, also as cover, but if the player wants to leave, a deal would be seriously possible.

I feel, with Gameiro, Arsenal could use a more counter attacking style of play similar to what Real Madrid do. With Walcott, Podolski, Cazorla, Gervinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gameiro as the attacking players in the squad, Arsenal would be a massive threat on the counter. The team would have to be more defensively capable though if they were to adopt a counter attacking style but I believe it could work because of the pace and finishing abilities of the players Arsenal have.

What do you think, should Arsenal try a more counter attacking style with Kevin Gameiro leading the line?

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Oliver Giroud has stated he will be looking to improve on his goal scoring tally in what has arguably been a difficult first season with Arsenal for the Frenchman. Giroud scored a total of 17 goals last term which statistically is better than the likes of Thierry Henry and Dider Drogba’s respective first seasons in English football however I must point out they were much younger than 26 year old Giroud and so they really shouldn’t be compared in any way.

Giroud said; “It was not easy at all. It was a massive challenge, I hope that as early as my second season, I can play week in week out and keep scoring regularly because it’s key for a striker. I have scored fewer compared to last season in Montpellier but the ratio, minutes played to goals scored, is good. I scored 17 goals in all competitions and gave 10 assists which, for a first season in England, is good. I am happy with the stats. However, you can always do better and I know I can do better and there is a lot of room for improvement. That is why I am already looking forward to next season.”

I suppose the stats are quite good considering it was his first season in what is arguably the world’s most competitive league however it’s not exactly the most promising compared to what we expected. Overall I may be being quite harsh on Giroud he did perform well, but like a lot of players were very inconsistent and if you look at his goals in wouldn’t say many were too outstanding. You don’t particularly need a striker of outstanding goals, just a poacher but what I mean is we need a striker who can score 30 plus goals a season, of which at least 25 should be in the league and quite simply I don’t feel Giroud is capable of that.

I don’t wish to be too negative and I do think on his day he can be a good striker but for me another striker is a must this summer and for the better of the team this will probably mean Giroud is relegated to the bench. Still I hope he can stick to his word and improve for next year as we look to challenge amongst the big guns for one of Europe’s most elite trophies!

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Has Arsene Wenger decided to give in to Walcott’s demands?

Arsenal lost Robin Van Persie last summer but Arsene Wenger decided to keep faith that Theo Walcott would sign an extension at the Emirates despite also entering the last year of his contract.

But Walcott has so far still failed to re-sign, and although the England international has announced that he wants Wenger to play him in the centre-forward position, Peter Hill-Wood has countered by saying that Arsenal won’t meet his wage demands.

The only way we will find out if Walcott is telling the truth will be if Wenger DOES make him centre-forward for a few games and see if he is a success.

he Frenchman now seems to think that it is a good idea. “I always said he will be striker,” Wenger said. “He’s a good finisher now. He knows where to be on the rebounds. That is the quality of a striker you can’t give to someone, they either have it or they don’t.”

“I want to keep him,” Wenger concluded. “I think aside from the contract talks, you have to give him credit for the way he is committed to the team, and for the way he behave.”

The only problem with this statement is that it sounds nearly exactly what Wenger said about Robin Van Persie last summer, and all the best Sportsbooks are saying that Walcott will be moving to Chelsea or Liverpool on a free transfer at the end of the season.

I can’t see him getting his wish to be a striker at either of those teams, so perhaps he really will stay at Arsenal?

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Sociedad now ready to deal with Arsenal over Carlos Vela

The Spanish club Real Sociedad want to sign the Arsenal striker Carlos Vela, on a permanent basis. Vela played last season for Sociedad, and now the Spanish club want to sign him for good, after the Mexican international managed to score 12 goals and provide 8 assists in one year.

Carlos Vela has been on Arsenal’s books since 2005, but he has been on loan to four other clubs already and it seems he is not an important part of Arsene Wenger’s plans for the future.

Reports in Spain suggest that Arsenal are willing to sell the Mexican striker, but for a minimum fee of £6million while Sociedad would only like to offer half of it. However, Sociedad now seem ready to come to a compromise with Arsenal in order to complete the deal, as the Mexican international adapted very well to the club and Spanish football in general.

If the 23 year old striker signs with Sociedad, he could receive a four-year contract and a deal that could make him the highest paid player at the club, while Arsenal would receive some money to use in other transfers as Vela has never really impressed Wenger as a Premier League player.

It’s a shame really as I think Vela is very talented and should have been given more chances to prove himself at Arsenal. Surely he is better than Chamakh?

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Podolski – I will play anywhere that Arsenal want me to!

The newest Arsenal player Lukas Podolski is not in the slightest bit worried about Arsene Wenger playing him out of position when he arrives at the Emirates next season, as it seems he can play anywhere in the attacking half of the field!

“In Cologne, I played as a centre forward and also as a playmaker.” Podolski said today. “In the national team I play wide on the left. I honestly don’t mind where I play as long as it’s in a forward position. But it’s always the coach who decides where you play and I will do my best wherever I play.”

“I had a very good season with Cologne and, as a result, I’m now going to Euro 2012 with lots of confidence. After that, I will be joining up with my new team mates at Arsenal and it is my goal just to do my best and be successful there.”

And we are dying to see you in action as well mr Podolski, I just hope to god that he will playing alongside Robin Van Persie and not be the only striker in the Arsenal side next season.

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Wenger Adds Another Talented Striker To The Shortlist

The Arsenal manager’s chase for a top striker continues, and even though he supposedly managed to transfer German striker Lukas Podolski, he’s looking for somebody he could use in the centre in front of goal rather than on the wings.

So far Montpellier’s Olivier Giroud seems the most likely target, with the French striker a clear favorite of Wenger’s. He’s this season’s top scorer in France, and he also impressed at the national team level so he would surely be able to help Arsenal in their trophy chase even though he’s unlikely to reach Henry’s potential.

Schalke’s Klaas Jan Huntelaar was also intensely linked with Arsenal given the contract situation of the Dutch striker and his relationship with his fellow Dutchman Robin Van Persie with whom he’s always pairing up in front for the “Oranges” side.

Now it seems that Wenger is ready to add another name on his possible shortlist as rumours point that the Gunners are trying to lure Dortmund’s Lewandowski to the Emirates. The 23-year-old Pole could be persuaded by his national team colleagues Fabianski and Szczesny to join the London side, and his rumoured transfer fee of £15 million wouldn’t make Wenger shy away from the deal.

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Podolski vs Giroud – Who Should Join Arsenal?

The rumours linking Arsenal to all sorts of strikers around Europe and a lot of names came up since the last summer, but two of them have been consistent and seem to really be targeted by Wenger.

It’s true that Arsenal need some massive reinforcements, and although the midfield is the weak point at the moment, it won’t hurt to grab an extra striker or two. Arshavin left, Chamakh will likely follow him and so should Park after a lengthy period with no action for the Gunners.

Wenger’s looking to bring replacements, and the battle seems to be between German striker Podolski and Frenchman Giroud. They are two attacking players who have different profiles, and many rumours say that the manager is looking to bring them both at the club.

Podolski is a second striker and can also play on either of the wings, while Giroud is a tall robust target man who can only play on that position which is currently owned by Robin. It wouldn’t be any problem for Robin to play along him as he does that each time with Huntelaar at the Dutch national team, but his performances are not quite as sparkly as they are when playing for Arsenal in this position.

So there is a problem there because Wenger risks to bring a player who could either cancel Robin Van Persie’s form or cancel his own, so what do you think the Frenchman should do?

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Arsenal-target Olivier Giroud impresses again

Rumours linking French striker Olivier Giroud with a possible transfer to Arsenal have been running around like crazy for quite a while now, but despite the incredible form Giroud is in, Arsene Wenger has yet to make any move on him.

Giroud is currently the leading goal scorer in the French Ligue 1 with 17 goals in 25 games, and he’s also one of the top 5 assisters in the league having passed the ball decisively for 7 times throughout the season.

Montpellier’s striker was one of the key men yesterday when France met Germany in a friendly game before this summer’s EURO 2012. Giroud managed to score the first goal of the match after a very good low cross and came very close to scoring the second goal as well but Malouda took advantage of the situation and scored it himself.

With such impressive stats and having now become an important part of the French side, Giroud would be an amazing addition to Arsenal’s attack even if Podolski really is already a Gunner.

If Wenger will decide himself on also bringing Giroud and a top midfielder like Hazard to be brought in the summer, Arsenal will have an amazing squad going into the next season.

Is it time Wenger took notice of Giroud?

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Europa League Star Admits Arsenal Talks

Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger seems set to change things at Arsenal after the horrible season the Gunners had and it seems that a top priority for the Frenchman is to bring in a good striker.

Long term club target Matias Suarez seems set to make the move to the Emirates Stadium after admitting that the London club did contact his agent to speak about a possible summer move from his current club Anderlecht.

‘I do not deny that my agent may have had contact with Arsenal. I’m flattered to be linked with this great club,’ Suarez said.

Suarez scored 16 goals in 27 appearances for the Belgium club this season  but despite his good performances the 23-year-old has yet made an impact on his national team squad not managing to snatch his first appearance in the Argentina national squad.

Arsenal are also close on the tail of Koln striker Lukas Podolski and Montpellier forward Olivier Giroud so Wenger has others to choose from. Let’s just hope his choice will be a smart one, and let’s face it, from the three Suarez seems the worst choice as Podolski has much more experience and Giroud is the current French League 1 top scorer.

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