French striker Olivier Giroud had a barnstorming start to the season, netting 7 times in the Gunners’ opening fixtures. He has enjoyed his best spell at the club since signing in 2012, however the frontman has showed signs of fatigue recently.
So far, Nicklas Bendtner has been the only deputy to Giroud’s spot, with the Dane striking once against Hull in the League. However, everyone and anyone involved with the Arsenal football club knows that Mr Bendtner is simply not good enough for the side now challenging for the title.
And so begins Arsene Wenger’s search for a top striker, to either play second fiddle to Giroud or even take over the striker’s first team position.
Forget Diego Costa
Atletico Madrid’s heroic striker Diego Costa has taken most of the headlines in Spain this season, topping the top goalscorers table with 19 from his 17 appearances.
That puts him ahead of goal-machine Cristiano Ronaldo and 9 goals better off that Barcelona’s nearest competitor, Pedro Rodriguez.
Costa, who recently opted to pledge his national representation to Spain over Brazil despite being born in Lagarto in South America, signed a new contract which should keep him at Atletico until 2018.
And although the new contract contains a £32million buyout clause - far below the actual estimated pricetag of the 25-year-old and surely within the price-range of Arsene Wenger - Atletico Madrid director of football Jose Luis Caminero has claimed that he is not thinking about leaving the Spanish capital any time soon.
"Right now Costa does not think of leaving, he is contracted to Atletico.”
"He has renewed with us which is important. He has shown that he wants to continue at this club."
Martinez is a Gunner (/Blue…)
However FC Porto’s Colombian forward has put himself on the market by claiming that he would prefer a move to Arsenal or Chelsea should he leave the Portuguese league.
Martinez has scored 14 times this season, with 7 of those goals coming in the domestic league to put him second in the standings. With 49 goals in just 64 Porto appearances, Martinez is a proven goal-getter.
And the 27-year-old has already flirted with his preferred destinations, expressing his admiration for the Premier League and the two London clubs in particular:
“Where would I like to play? When I was a child I rooted for Chelsea and Arsenal,’ Martinez said.
“I think the best championships are La Liga, the Premier League and the Bundesliga.”
However even Martinez knows that the decision will not be his, leaving his future in the hands of his faith:
“It is they [Porto] who have to decide what they want to do with me,’ he said. ‘If it is to continue here, or send it to a transfer depends very much on them.”
“If something happens, and more than thinking in economic conditions, I think there are opportunities that can be taken.”
“But I continue to think of the club and now I leave my future in the hands of God.”
“I will only give my maximum and not look to hasten things, because they will happen in due time.”
“For now I do not feel the need to talk with FC Porto. I am calm without denying or closing, or trading any possibility that some part of the club is interested in keeping me.”
Do we need it?...
However, with the return of attacking threats Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski this week, it remains to be seen whether or not another striker is needed at the Emirates.
Walcott struck twice this weekend after a hefty spell on the sidelines and although he played from the wing against West Ham he has previously expressed his desire to live up to his no.14 shirt number and take on the Thierry Henry centre-forward role.
Podolski is also capable of manning the same position, having also hit the net at the Boleyn Ground. The German similarly returned from a significant injury but looked sharp in his comeback game.
There are also numerous youngsters which the Boss has used sparingly this year, playing them regularly in pre-season before introducing only Serge Gnabry into the first team noticeably.
A new striker could come in numerous forms, however with Giroud quickly tiring it is evident that it is a must.
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