The striker situation at Arsenal

Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski

I’m often told that Arsenal ‘need’ a striker. I don’t agree with nor do I disagree with the sentiment behind that statement, but I do disagree with the choice of verb.

Like many, I would like a new striker at Arsenal and preferably this month if a good enough one is available.

Sure, we only really have Giroud as a respected forward choice (although that is hotly debated amongst Gooners) but does that mean we need to spend £40m+ on a striker?

Costa is the name many point to as a top class talent that could be available this month. I’m not going to say the guy is good or bad, I haven’t watched him enough to feel comfortable making such statements, however, people I know and whose judgement I trust say he is yet to prove himself consistently, and goal-scoring is a relatively new habit for him and also lacking in consistency. Hardly the saviour we are hoping for, right?

Some would take any striker available just for comfort’s sake. But that, again, is want, not need.

Arsenal play with one striker and as far as the manager is concerned we have 5 strikers; Giroud, Bendtner, Podolski, Park and Sanogo. Say what you like about the quality of each player but at the very least Wenger rates 4 of those players and trusts the first two to see the team right. Sure, it’s a risk if Giroud gets injured but that’s a risk you take with all players and it makes no sense to have too many players on the books ‘just in case’ – that’s how you get ‘deadwood’.

Wenger has made it clear he would like another striker, but only if there is a top quality player available. Berbatov is an improvement on quite a few of those players but for how long and at what cost? Yes it’s been a long time since we won a trophy but do we want to take a few steps backwards in an effort to move an extra step forward ‘just in case’?

I’d love to see another striker come in this window, but I won’t be kicking off if we don’t. If a scouting network like Arsenal’s and a manager like Wenger (not to mention almost every other EPL manager there has ever been) feels there isn’t quality to be had in January, or specifically anyone that is going to be a dramatic improvement on what we have then I am more inclined to trust them than the wishful desires of a few twitter profiles that pop up on my TL every now and again.

We’re still top despite losing to City and are doing okay with the strikers we have. Maybe we’re riding our luck or maybe the team is set up to get the best out of all, not just one player. Only time will tell and I for one won’t be tugging on my testicles if we don’t get a striker in the next week.