The Gunners’ firepower hardly compares to Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, and if their only fit striker, and top scorer, Olivier Giroud were to get injured it would spell disaster.
Arsene Wenger’s side were linked with Schalke’s Germany international Julian Draxler, but I can understand his logic in not proceeding – £37m looked a lot of money for a 20-year-old who is not proven in the Premier League. Manchester United paid that amount for Juan Mata, and the Spain international is the finished article.
But other than Giroud, Wenger’s options look limited: Theo Walcott is out injured for the season and I feel Nicklas Bendtner is nowhere near fit enough. Yaya Sanogo is another striker on the treatment table.
Arsenal also have injury problems in midfield – Aaron Ramsey is out for six weeks, Jack Wilshere has hurt his ankle and Mathieu Flamini is suspended for three games – and they have addressed that with the loan signing of Kim Kallstrom [ although he is now injured ].
But another striker at the Emirates would have given the squad a lift, in the same way that the arrival of record £42.4m signing Mesut Ozil did last September.
The big problem for the Gunners is that, while their attacking options are slim, leaders Manchester City are raining goals.
Written by Steve Milne
