Arsenal's predicted Starting XI for 2015/16

#4 Striker

Olivier Giroud or Theo Walcott up front – maybe both?

While Karim Benzema is eternally linked to Arsenal every transfer window, it is highly unlikely the Frenchman would choose to leave Real Madrid for the Premier League. As calls for a new striker at the Emirates do the rounds every year, Olivier Giroud’s remarkable rise ever since he signed for the club is conveniently brushed under the carpet.

The French striker has finally acclimatized to the EPL and improved his numbers. Giroud has scored 17, 22 and 18 goals in the past three seasons respectively – a clear rise every season when you consider he was sidelined for almost four months at the start of last season.

By contrast, his emergency replacement Danny Welbeck finished with only 8 goals in 2014/15. While the Frenchman did look jaded towards the end of the season, it was more due to the increased playing time in the absence of Welbeck (injured) and Theo Walcott (who didn’t become a regular starter until May).

Thierry Henry said Giroud was not a striker who would help you win the league. That may well be the case to a certain extent, but the Gunners are not going to break the bank to land a striker when there are so few readily available in the market – no matter how much money they claim they have in the bank.

While Walcott takes ages to put pen to paper on a new contract, the difference in an Arsenal team with Giroud up front and Walcott leading the line are clearly apparent. Giroud is more adept at bringing midfielders into play while Walcott is more often than not the final end product. Though both players have fine tuned their first touch and finishing, Giroud’s aerial prowess and link-up play makes him the automatic choice to start games.

This is one major reason why Walcott has not extended his contract yet as he seeks assurances of playing time instead of competing with Ramsey on the right. But Wenger has played his cards right by starting him in the FA Cup final where Walcott even opened the scoring in a 4-0 rout of Aston Villa.

Ultimately, it will be down to the formation Wenger adopts and which midfielder is sacrificed if Walcott and Giroud are to be played together.

Arsenal's Starting XI and second choice players for each position in 2015/16