Wenger Beware: This void in the Arsenal Team could cost the Gunners the title

Arsenal are in desperate need of a top class centre forward if they are to win the Premier League title. It is as simple as that. Olivier Giroud is a decent striker who holds the ball up well and has superb link-up play with the midfielders. It’s been working well so far this season but in the big games, he’s gone missing. Against Manchester United and, most recently, Manchester City, Giroud struggled to make a relevant impact on his side’s performance and that is worrying.

He has been good against the lesser sides, especially at home. Giroud would make a good back-up striker to play against the Premier League’s poorer sides but if the Gunners are serious about challenging for the Premier League title this season, then they must sign a truly world class striker for Giroud to play second fiddle to.

Arsene Wenger chased Luis Suarez throughout the summer but failed. The Uruguayan has since scored 17 goals in his 11 league appearances this season – more than of Giroud’s tally of seven. Suarez is in a league of his own in terms of scoring this season but that is the type of striker Arsenal need in order to properly threaten at the very top.

Many people are still unsure of Arsenal’s title credentials and that may come down to the fact that they are missing an out-and-out lethal goal-scorer. Should they have a player of Suarez’s calibre leading their line right now, they’d likely be favourites to win the league.

Giroud has seven goals this season and a conversion rate of 17.1%, which is far worse than Suarez’s 29.8%. Suarez is more dangerous in front of goal and he also creates more chances than Giroud. The Frenchman has completed 20 key passes this season. Compared to Suarez, that is nothing. The Liverpool frontman has completed 32 key passes and is either scoring or creating – he is phenomenal.

That’s the difference a world class striker will bring to Arsenal. More chances created, a better finisher and more goals. Isn’t that the most important thing for a striker?

Giroud would make a good back-up to someone like Suarez, and while I compared the two, that wouldn’t mean I think Wenger will get Suarez. It is a fair judgement to compare Giroud to a world class striker like Suarez as it shows the gulf in class and what the Gunners are missing out on.

Giroud’s teamwork and link-up play has been good so far this season but Arsenal are stilling missing a spark. He doesn’t offer that and is unlikely to score 20 or more goals in the league and that is what is required for a team to win the Premier League title. Rarely does a team finish top in May without a prolific forward so if Arsene Wenger really believes his team can push on and achieve their goals, he needs to spend cleverly and spend big in January.