As each game comes and goes, it becomes increasingly clear that Arsenal are short up front. Yes, the Gunners grabbed three goals against Olympiakos, but they really strained and struggled to get there.
Strangely enough, Gervinho has been converted into a workable striker, but with Lukas Podolski pushed out wide, and Theo Walcott cast into a contract-wilderness, Arsene Wenger’s options are limited.
Olivier Giroud continues to work hard, dig in and create opportunities. The main problem, however, is his complete inability to tuck any of them away. A miss against Chelsea in the last minute of Arsenal’s 2-1 loss strikes me as particularly costly. It’s all the more painful considering the fact that he had the nous to round the keeper.
Who else do the Gunners have to turn to? Marouane Chamakh. The Morrocan isn’t getting a look in this season and it’s clear he has no future at the club. With that in mind, it’s time for Arsenal to get out there and start looking at further options.
Bolton fans will doubtless remember a former Real Madrid star linking up with their team on loan back in 2010. Rodrigo, who was just 19-years-old at the time, only managed to score one goal in 17 appearances. But, despite the young strikers lack of form in front of goal, he did show enough technical ability and aplomb to catch the eye of the Trotters faithful. Owen Coyle even attempted to pick him up on loan for another year. He failed, and Bolton were relegated.
Since moving from Real Madrid to Benfica, however, the young Spaniard’s career has gone into overdrive. At 21-years-old, he’s now fully ingratiated as a member of Benfica’s first team. Last season he grabbed 15 goals in 37 appearances. That’s an impressive return for a young player, who has caught the eye of Arsene Wenger, according to talkSPORT.
Arsene Wenger has a reputation for cultivating talent within young players and may revel in the opportunity of honing Rodrigo’s skills. He’s been slapped with an £18m estimated fee, thanks to his wonderkid status. That’s a lot of money for a player so young (indeed, it’d break Arsenal’s transfer record) but I think it’d be worth it.
He’s a fantastic player, with bags of potential and this is an area that Arsenal need to improve. That, to me, seems like a good fit.
What’s your take? Would Rodrigo fit in nicely at the Emirates?
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rodrigo is good
but £20 million is just too much for an unproven talent….
if speaking of rodrigo’s 17goals
even giroud was top scorer in French league last season
n
other takes time when u don’t Av the experience of playing in Europe’s elite competition n for ur country…
giroud is gonna shine no doubt
he’s not getting enough chances
u can’t ask him to come from the bench n score goals
this can b done by players who are at arsenal for quite some time…n has epl experience
someone inexperienced as giroud can’t do this
wenger should Av signed Owen
or berbatov for such performance….
instead of rodrigo
wenger should lure jovetic away from fiorentina
he can play as a striker ….as second striker
as false nine…as a winger
n
also as an attacking midfielder or playmaker
podolski isn’t that creative on wing
n even isn’t a good crosser of the ball
but yet he is good with one two…n finishing
the right wing needs
a player who can make quality crosses in the box
even if giroud misses podolski would be behind him to head or volley the ball in….
jovetic would provide assists as well as goals
n
if cazorla is injured he can fill up his boots
n jovetic is quite young
wenger can develop him very well
if theo leaves Thn jovetic must be signed
his price might b in the range£18-24 millions
Isco is another wonderkid
n for a playmaker he’s tall yet agile