Striker or bust for Arsenal!! by JH
One of very few things Arsenal fans can agree on is that we need a world class striker, following the days of Wright, Henry, Van Persie, Giroud simply just doesn’t cut it. I believe a world class striker would have scored at least two vs Liverpool. Giroud managed none….
But as the transfer window draws to a close, who can we actually buy?
The Benzema deal is “dead” in the words of Wenger. Jackson Martinez was a player many Arsenal fans wanted, but he has gone to Atletico Madrid. Paolo Dybala was an early popular choice, although not yet world class, he has a ton of potential and will no doubt be in that top bracket of strikers sooner rather than later, but he too is no longer available having Joined Juventus. Carlos Bacca was available from Sevilla, but swiftly moved to AC Milan. Edin Dzeko left Man City for Roma. Mandzukic left Atletico to join Dybala at Juventus. Ciro Immobile has joined Sevilla on loan. I believe we should have gone for Benteke, but he is now a red at Liverpool.
We have once again been linked to Higuain, but his Copa America performance has turned most people off him, then Napoli asked for around £60million for him, and this certainly turned AW off. Edinson Cavani is now the “number one target” for Arsenal, but at roughly £250k a week, would he take a huge pay cut to join us? Doubtful. Also would Wenger pay over £30million for a player who is 28? I cant see it. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is another we fans would love, at £300k per week, he would have to at least half his wage to join us, would he? Unlikely. And at 33, soon to be 34 would AW take the risk? Probably not.
Robert Lewandowski. Lewandowski also seems the most “available” of all world class strikers, with Muller, Robben, Ribery, Costa, Gotze, Lewandowski. Bayern has to leave someone out, Lewandoski seems the easiest option, also when selling him, Bayern will make a hefty profit having gotten him for free.
However the issue would be price, how much would we have to pay for him? £40million? Fanciful £45million? Unlikely, I think they would look closer towards £50-60 million for him but would Wenger pay this for him? or anyone? that remains to be seen.—-
My pick would be Lukaku, he has the pace and power we need, the ability in the air, he is well used to the Premier league. Despite his young age he is already approaching 50 goals in the league, he has struck 44 times in 115 games a very good record. He is currently on £40k a week, which Wenger could double to get him, but again the sticking point would be price. Everton have declined £35million for Stones, would anything less get Lukaku? No. He would cost upwards of £40million, but at 22, he could be a starter for almost a decade.
One thing we know for sure, is Arsenal NEED a striker to challenge for the league. Another thing we know is that Arsene Wenger knows this. He wanted Suarez, he wanted Higuain, he wanted Benzema. He knows Giroud is not good enough.
So which striker would you guys want? More importantly who do you think we will get? Or will we be stuck with Giroud for another year?
By Jonn Hirons