re: Arsenal 2013/2014 Season Long Thread

The problem with Giroud isn't his lack of productivity (well I take that back, it kind of is) but the fact that there isn't anyone else up top to pick up the slack. Notice the other teams have multiple strikers putting the goals in.

I get all that, but we need someone who can turn and make runs at the defense, not rely solely on service from the wings for a tap-in/header. You know, for when we have our inevitable injuries.

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Notice the other teams have multiple strikers putting the goals in.

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And most likey ramsey and walcott have around 20 a piece if not injured. Im just looking at those numbers, Dzeko to torres. good god that is an awful return on those strikers. This brings me back to there isnt a perfect striker out there and we arent getting suarez so we need to spend the big money elsewhere.

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I get all that, but we need someone who can turn and make runs at the defense, not rely solely on service from the wings for a tap-in/header. You know, for when we have our inevitable injuries.

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That's the biggest thing. I would take our first 11 healthy against almost anyone in the world and like our chances. But that's not realistic.

Giroud works great with a Ramsey, who is constantly making runs and moving defenders, and even with Theo, who can get behind when Giroud drops in.

But when we have two slow holding midfielders who won't threaten a backline and two wingers who want the ball at their feet, Giroud looks awful.

When he's best is getting the ball at his feet and hitting someone making the secondary run. That can devastate a defense, but it requires speed and stamina behind Giroud. When that's not there, we don't work with him.

But, his back to goal play has been exceptional all year, and he's good at getting on the end of a ball when he's fresh and not frustrated.

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Not sure that chart should give you that feeling, especially when Giroud has more starts than any of those listed, some by a large margin.

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I get that, but most of his goals came at beginning and end, after he had been rested. We don't need to shell out 30+ mil on a striker to get us 6 goals and play 12 games. That's the point I'm getting at, plus durability can't be understated in the value of a player. If said player sits on the bench or in the stands, he's not helping the squad. Yes wee need a striker, but I feel like a cm is more important to slowly transition away from arteta. Then there is the whole thing with Ramsey and jack rarely being healthy together so you absolutely can't rely on just them and Mr glass. Because then we are stuck with only arteta, who IMO has out played his physical limitations. But dies have limitations that are more noticeable hen he's the last line of defense when you cbs push up for set pieces.

We probably have 0% chance of getting him. Paris (aka the Qataris) are ready to throw 70 million euros at Juve and we can't compete with that obviously.

Yeah, pogba is amazing, but we don't need to expend that money on a b2b mf when we already have Ramsey.

Also, seems like drmic is staying in Germany

Ehh it's still early in transfer sagas. Also being durable is a skillset, especially for Arsenal. There's value in Giroud being able to play 50 games a season if need be, even if his production wanes. Obviously we need upgrades and/or competition, but knowing he'll most likely at least be able to play is reassuring.

You all sell Arsenal so short, if I told you a year ago Arsenal would sign Özil, you would all laugh at me.

There is supposedly ~120 million to be spent, let's spend it. Cavani, Bender and Aurier are huge positions of need...they wouldn't cost 100 combined. Arsenal finally have money again and they need to be aggressive. Maybe I'm delusional but this window will establish Arsenal as the club they should be. The trophies are going to start flooding in, let's believe.