Following a limp attacking display against West Ham United in their Premier League opener on Sunday, Arsenal FC fans have called upon manager ArsA?ne Wenger to sign a new striker before the window shuts – an opinion shared by legendary Gunners midfielder Ray Parlour
The Gunners got their season off to the worst possible start by falling to an embarrassing 2-0 defeat to Slaven Bili ‘s West Ham United on Sunday. Whilst much of the narrative following the game was focussed on the mistakes of new signing Petr A?ech in the concession of the goals, striker Olivier Giroud’s ineffective performance did not go unnoticed.
Former Arsenal FC midfielder Ray Parlour has joined pundits and fans alike in calling upon the Gunners to sign a new striker before the close of business in order to seriously challenge for the Premier League title this season.
Parlour believes Arsenal FC need to look at their striking options
Arsenal FC legend Ray Parlour has weighed in on his former club’s striking situation, and expressed his concern about the club’s lack of a consistent goalscorer up front. Speaking to Sky Sports News (via Mail Online), the Englishman said: “That is a position they’ve got to look at.
“Everyone is going to jump on the bandwagon now but it’s a long, hard season and there’s a long way to go.
“If you look at Man City, you know Sergio AgA?ero is their main man, for Manchester United it’s Wayne Rooney and at Chelsea it’s Diego Costa. Who is it at Arsenal?
“I didn’t know who would start for Arsenal on Sunday because Theo Walcott started the Community Shield. I don’t think they have someone who you can say ‘he’s definitely going to play and he will score us goals.'”
Wenger needs to sign a world class striker
Although Arsenal FC manager ArsA?ne Wenger successfully addressed one problem area within his squad with the signing of Petr A?ech from rivals Chelsea FC, the Gunners options up front could do with upgrading.
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Frenchman Olivier Giroud is a solid striker – one capable of scoring 15-20 goals a season – but is not someone a club challenging for the Premier League title should have to rely on for goals. Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott are also options available to Wenger, but neither of them are what one could reasonably term ‘world class’ either.
A striker like Karim Benzema could make a huge difference to Arsenal FC. The Gunners never really successfully replaced Robin van Persie since the Dutchman departed for Manchester United in 2012, and the lack of a consistent goalscorer has affected them ever since.
Wenger can count on the likes of Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut zil and Alexis SA?nchez to chip in with goals throughout the season, but there is no substitute for a world class striker.
Manchester United won the league in 2012-2013 thanks largely to a mercurial presence up front in the form of Van Persie. Manchester City have counted on the likes of Sergio AgA?ero in their title victories, whilst Diego Costa was arguably the key to Jos Mourinho’s men winning the title last season.
If Arsenal FC intend to win the league, they must take a leaf out of their rivals’ book and upgrade up front.