Arsenal are notably short in the striker department – I don’t think there are many people arguing about that. Despite the fact they have topped the Premier League for the vast majority of the season, the Gunners have now slipped to second and could fall even further if Manchester City win their game in hand. A big part of Arsenal’s season has been Olivier Giroud, who started the campaign in blistering form, but I am going against the grain here and am going to suggest that he is not good enough to lead the line for the Gunners if they want to win the league next season.
Don’t get me wrong, I rate the France international. However, I don’t think he is in the same class as the likes of Manchester City’s Alvaro Negredo or Sergio Aguero, and I also think he falls short of quality in terms of those who I think will be competing for the title next year.
Liverpool have 23-goals Luis Suarez and 16-goal Daniel Sturridge, while Manchester United have Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, and I rate all of the above higher than Giroud.
He lacks agility, he struggles to take control in the big games and is often found lacking in the technique department, and I think if they are to overcome the challenge next season then at best he will have to be second choice to a new forward.
I also think Chelsea will strengthen their frontline in the summer, quite considerably too, so my message to Arsene Wenger is to act fast in order to bring in a new, world class centre-forward.
Jay O’Malley
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