DOSSIER: IS WENGER ATTEMPTING TO INSULT THE EPL OR ATTEMPTING HISTORY AGAIN

If you ever wondered why Arsene Wenger’s priority over the summer was to get a striker, I guess the game against Manchester United and Monday’s game against Chelsea would have been the final pieces in your jigsaw, if not; maybe you were not just looking.

MATCH STATS

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR	MANCHESTER UNITED	ARSENAL
SCORES	1	0
POSSESSION	40.5%	59.5%
SHOTS ON TARGET	2	2
SHOT ACCURACY	40%	33.3%

GIROUD RATED GOAL.COM’S Flop of the match.

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR	ARSENAL	CHELSEA
SCORES	0	0
POSSESSION	59.5%	40.5%
SHOTS ON TARGET	2	4
SHOT ACCURACY	61.4%	38.6%

If the need to bolster the striking force of the erstwhile league leaders was not obvious before the game on Monday, I am sure even the blind can point it out as the reason arsenal could not take their chances and why although it was a game against one of the big teams, it was two points dropped rather than one point gained.

Arsenal’s frustration in going forward in the game against united is further exposed by the fact that their best combination of passes in their nearly 60% control of the game was between Koscielny and Vermalaen whereas Manchester United had their best combination in Valencia and Rooney.

Giroud’s criticism in the Man Utd game can start from the goal van persie scored, he was flat footed in the duel and although running towards the ball gave van persie some advantage he allowed van persie leap over him to put David Moyes’ charges one goal up. He continued the game showing how poor he can be with off the ball runs, not trying to get behind the Man Utd defence line when arsenal was in possession limiting arsenal to the same number of shots on target as their opponents even though they had 20% more of the ball. Furthermore arsenal put in more crosses in the game than united and had more success with their crossing accuracy than United but the wastes of the crosses got even worse when he was joined by want away Nicklas Bendtner. In the Chelsea game which is the most recent show of shame from a forward player hoping to lead his team to the title, Giroud’s criticism can start anywhere really.

GIROUD AGAINST CHELSEA

TOTAL PASSES	PASSING ACCURACY	DUELS WON	AERIALDUELS WON	Goal.com PLAYER RATING
31	64.5%	43.8%	30%	2/5

Arsenal attempted a total of ten shots in the Manchester United game twice as much as the red devils. Only two of those shots were credited to Giroud. In fact Arsenal is now third in the league’s goal scorers’ chat only to Man City and Liverpool. Of all the 33 goals scored so far only 7 [21%] have come from a Giroud. Liverpool who are the next best to City in the league with points have scored 42 goals with 19 [45%] of them coming from, you guessed right Suarez.

Wenger really is insulting the premier league by attempting to win it with a striking combination of Giroud and Bendtner or if you prefer I say Giroud and Podolski.

Let us take a look at what strike partnership have delivered the league in the last 5 years.

YEAR	CLUB	STRIKE PATNERSHIP	TOTAL LEAGUE GOALS
2013	MANCHESTER UNITED	ROONEY & VAN PERSIE	12+26=38
2012	MANCHESTER CITY	AGUERO AND DZEKO	23+14=37
2011	MANCHESTER UNITED	CHICHARITO & BERBATOV	13+20=33
2010	CHELSEA	DROGBA & LAMPARD	29+22=51
2009	MANCHESTER UNITED	RONALDO & ROONEY	18+12=30

For the sake of doing an estimate, if we assume that Giroud would find the net in the remaining two games of the first round of matches. That would bring his tally to 9 for the season and if he enjoys the same form he had at the beginning of the season sometime during the second round of matches he would have 18goals by the end of the season which would be match to the poorest goal haul by a league winning team’s top scorer [Ronaldo in 2009].

The days of the defensive woes are definitely over with Arsenal sitting as the second best defence in the league so close to midway in the season. Save the Man City game Arsenal have kept it tight at the back and are far more stable at the back.

If Wenger really intend to carry on his title challenge, end arsenal’s trophy-less run and above all consolidate the presence of arguably the best creative midfielder in the World, he should really consider changing the attacking options for the rest of the season. Giroud not only fall short with his finishing but also with his connecting the team together in leading the attack. The team has a number of options which includes Theo Walcott and Podolski who arguments can be made for about some prolific record in the past. Sanogo is largely unproven and Bendtner is struggling with confidence.

Every other striker who would be fit the pursuit of Arsenal this Season is cup tied in the Champions league, a safe attempt for the while would be Lewandowski to drive home the title challenge and put the squad in a good position for the season to come. A wild card would be to loan Adebayor for the rest of the season to help with the title push and the Champions league as well. To reposition Arsenal, a major attacking option is needed as soon as can be added.