Do Gunners Need More Fire Power To Secure Title?

Emirates Stadium

Strikers Edinson Cavani, Simone Zaza and Javier Hernandez have all been linked with big money moves to the English Premier League during this January transfer window.

It looks as if Brazilian hot-shot Alexandre Pato is set to complete a move to Chelsea in the coming days, with many speculating that a verbal agreement has been agreed between the main parties involved.

Current Premier League goalscorers Saido Berahino and Romelu Lukaku have also been mentioned as possible transfer targets for some of England’s elite sides.

Current league leaders Arsenal have been linked with a host of striking names including a few previously mentioned.

Celta Vigo’s Nolito and Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have also been discussed heavily regarding moves to the Emirates.

But earlier this week, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger moved to play down the possibility of a new forward coming in to bolster the Arsenal attack this month.

The Frenchman has hinted that he feels he has the required numbers in attack to continue their strong challenge for the league title.

Obviously Oliver Giroud has been the North London club’s biggest goalscoring threat in the current campaign. The French international has twelve goals in his twenty-one league appearances.

Now I am a huge Giroud fan and have been stating his qualities since he arrived at Arsenal in 2012. He possesses great battling qualities, has improved against the bigger sides and works well as the teams focal point. But you can’t hide from the fact that he can go missing and has dry spells during a season.

Wenger believes that Theo Walcott through the middle can help when Giroud goes through those dry spells. Now again I think Walcott is a good forward as he possesses electric pace and has learned to be more clinical in front of goal. But unfortunately for the pacey Englishman, every time he gets a prolonged stay in the team he picks up an injury and he’s still to prove himself as a prolific hitman.

Costa Rican attacker Joel Campbell has impressed in recent months. But he hasn’t been used through the middle. His endeavour on the right flank has been noticed and complimented on but alas he hasn’t got the goals in him to win a league championship.

Now Wenger has been boosted by the news that both Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck are nearing returns from injury.

Sanchez is a proven world-class talent but again he’s more effective playing on the wing. That said he will always add goals to the side and add spark when its needed.

With Welbeck it’s a case of wait and see. Arsenal have a poor recent history with players coming back later than expected and getting injured again. Welbeck can play through the middle and will run all day for the team. But again does he have that killer instinct to fire the Gunners to glory?

This seems to happen a lot with Arsenal. They have an injury crisis and need to bring in players during the season. Then when January comes around players return and Wenger decides to hold off until the summer.

That’s a gamble that has cost them dear in the past. Is Arsene going to make the same mistake this time?

Wenger has reacted well and brought in Mohamed Elneny at the right time. The gritty midfielder will add extra strength in the defensive midfield department, especially with Francis Coquelin currently on the sidelines.

The summer signing of Petr Cech was inspired and his reliability between the sticks has certainly helped keep Arsenal in top spot in recent weeks.

Mesut Ozil has been one of the Premier League’s standout players this term and will be up for all the player of the year awards come April. Wenger should be applauded for keeping faith in the German and getting the best out of his maestro this season.

But no matter how many plaudits I can find to express all that’s right with Arsenal at the moment, I still have that feeling that they need one more star forward in the squad to really make that next step count!

Maybe just maybe Arsene Wenger is calling a few bluffs, has a card left up his sleeve and is just waiting for the right time to play his hand.

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