With the Metro reporting that Arsenal have been offered the services of former Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou, here are three reasons why I think Arsene Wenger should steer clear.
1) lack of goals
Kalous has never been a player to score many goals. Baring one good season in Holland where he scored 27 goals in 40 games for Feyenoord, the Ivorian has been very hit and miss up top and has often been moved to the wing.
During his six-season stay at Chelsea he scored just 60 goals in 251 appearances, which spreads out to a goal every 4.2 games. Even Nicklas Bendtner has a better ratio than that – in his five and a bit seasons at Arsenal he has scored 45 goals in 161 games – a goal every 3.5 appearances.
2) lack of physical presence
The Gunners need a bulky striker who can lead the line on his own, like Giroud. Kalou is a lightweight player who is easily pushed off the ball and is no real threat in the air. He is unable to play with his back to goal and can’t throw his weight around, simply because he hasn’t got any to throw!
3) Walcott
If Arsene Wenger wants a pacey forward to play on the shoulder then he has exactly that in Theo Walcott. The former Southampton man has proved he can score goals – he scored 21 last season to finish as the club’s top scorer – and has continuously thrown his hat in the ring to be considered as a centre-forward.