With Arsenal failing or turning down the chance to sign a new centre forward to cover for the injured France international Olivier Giroud, you would have to assume that Arsene Wenger thinks he has got enough options in the Arsenal squad already to cope until Christmas.
And with his reluctance to use either Walcott or Podolski in the middle, or Joel Campbell anywhere, that leaves just Alexis Sanchez and Yaya Sanogo for the central striking role. Arsene Wenger certainly seems to have faith in the young Frenchman signed for nothing last summer, but the stats do not agree.
In a Sky Sports report on the disappointing draw with Leicester, it was revealed that Sanogo set the unwanted record of the most shots in a Premier League game (7) without scoring a goal. Only two of those were actually on target. I know that his first goal will help him to settle, but the overall stats comparison on Squawka.com between him and Giroud last season tell a sorry story for the youngster.
His overall score, as an average per game, was minus 0.63 compared to Giroud’s 17.14 and his score for attacking is even worse, -0.8g compared to Giroud’s 21.13. His pass completion and shooting accuracy is actually a little better than Giroud’s but how many of those shots are straight at the keeper or into a defender? The most damning stat, of course, is played 16 senior games, scored none in an Arsenal shirt.
And I don’t think that putting all this pressure on him to do the business for Arsenal is going to help him get any better either. So Wenger could have ruined our season and Sanogo’s career in one fell swoop. What do you guys think?
Brilliant Wenger Parody of Transfer day deadline – POKER FACE!