Arsenal fans have been crying out for a new striker to lead the line in recent years, but all I hear is negativity around our supposed targets.
We have been linked with a number of targets in recent years, but despite Arsene Wenger working hard to land a new forward, none of the targets tick all the right boxes for many fans.
First we made an attempt to sign Jamie Vardy from Leicester City, who decided that his story with the Foxes is not completed as of yet. We triggered his release clause and made him an offer, only for him to sign a new contract with the Premier League champions. That is fine, but when I hear that Arsenal fans didn’t want him anyway, I ask myself, is anyone good enough?
Vardy scored 24 PL goals last term, in firing his side to the title, and showed real bottle as the season got gritty, whereas we folded when the going got tough. We haven’t had a player top 16 PL goals in a season since RVP left in 2012, yet this guy is not good enough?
Morata was also on the hit-list, but he now appears to be too expensive according to reports. Even while we were linked with him, fans were quick to downplay his goal tally, which per season is nothing too impressive. Despite that, he was the favoured option to join the club, but he is more of a big-game player than a consistent goalscorer. Some of that is justified, but the fact that he has had to share his role in the side with fellow impressive strikers Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala has been disruptive to his progress with Juventus.
Finally we are being linked with Romelu Lukaku, and now I hear a number of critiques on his style of play too?
The Belgian has 60 PL goals from the last four seasons alone, three more than Giroud, despite playing for lesser sides. He is still only 23 years-old, and has the strength and finishing worthy of reaching a level above where he is at. But instead of concentrating on the positives, all I’m hearing is that his first touch is not of the standard, and that he is not the right fit for our team…
I beg you Arsenal fans, please understand that what we NEED to do is strengthen, and these players WOULD ALL do that. Any of the three would bring something different to our options, and all could play a big part in our push to try and land our first title in what could be 13 years!
Nobody is perfect, but they all have some great attributes. Let’s face it, who wants to be stuck with Giroud and Walcott as our senior strike-options?
Pat J