Arsenal have long been the prettiest team in the Premiership. They pass and move and put together some of the nicest one touch soccer in the world Let’s speculate about who they might be adding to the squad, just after the jump.
Of course, all that beautiful passing hasn’t filled the old onion bag (shout out to Tommy Smyth) , or brought much silverware home to the Emirates lately. Now that the most prolific Gunner of all, TH14 himself has moved on to Barca, Arsenal is in desperate need of someone to score goals.
It isn’t necessary to find a 30 goals a season scorer, but the Gunners need to add some firepower up front while they wait for some of Arsene Wenger’s young prospects (paging Theo Walcott) to make the great leap to the first team.
The transfer window officially opens this week, and for now the team’s striker options seem to be growing shorter.
Obafemi Martins, the Nigerian international who suits up for Newcastle, has a 13 million pound buyout clause in his contract and might be a candidate to come to Arsenal. He is the sort of speedy striker who could pair with Van Persie to finish some of those pretty through-balls sent in by Fabregas. He’s also only 22, which would add to Wenger’s stable of young talent.
Another possible addition is former Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka currently at Bolton Wanderers, who scored 23 times during his previous stint under Wenger. There remains some question among fans whether or not the board will want him back, which may result in a showdown between Wenger and the board. Seems to me that the board owe something to Arsene, presuming that he extends his contract.
The third option in my mind is the longest shot of all, young Argentinian Carlos Tevez, from West Ham United, currently donning his home nation’s striped kit and wreaking havoc in the Copa America. Tevez has been linked with moves to Inter Milan and Real Madrid, but has also mentioned that he’d like to stay in England and that he is attracted to Arsenal’s style of play.
The fact is, someone needs to score for this team to stay in the top 4 in the League, so Arsenal can keep playing Champions League soccer which is tremendously attractive for the best players in the world. I also think it’s best to get someone from within England, so that their adjustment period will be as short as possible and that they will contribute immediately.
