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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
