No signings in January?

How would you feel about no signings in January?

I would not feel great.

I feel signing a striker is crucial if we want to remain competitive at the highest level this season, especially towards the "business end".

Even if Giroud, Walcott and Podolski remain fit, we are lacking a little something extra up-front to win the big games.

I would feel ok with it but it all depends on how fit the squad is... We could do with an attacker. We really could.

As good as Giroud is with his over all play, we certainly could do with a striker who can pull a rabbit out of the hat even when we aren't playing at our best. But who could be available in January(for a reasonable price) is the real question imo.

Subrat Koirala wrote:As good as Giroud is with his over all play, we certainly could do with a striker who can pull a rabbit out of the hat even when we aren't playing at our best. But who could be available in January(for a seasonable price) is the real question imo.

Alexandre Pato!

Having thought about this a little bit, I would classify strikers / forwards into four categories :

Work-horses,

Strikers who put away chances,

Strikers who put away half-chances, and

Players who create something out of nothing or make things happen.

If anything, we need someone who can either create something out of nothing (Suarez) or puts away half chances (Falcao).

As a side note, we sold one of the best in the business at creating something out of nothing not so long ago. Before him, I would put Henry in the same category and Adebayor in the category of strikers who put away chances (at best).

I think the squad is fine.

But that could change. I would like to see how the squad goes with Podolski back. Does Wenger put him in central striker? Will he perform there? Will he score. Will he be useful off the bench and be able to make an impact?

The squad is in the perfect situation now for Wenger's transfer strategy.

He doesn't force a transfer, unlike Chelsea or City. When the right opportunity arises, he takes it. But if it doesn't, we miss out.

The best situation is to have a strong squad, and to just be adding a couple of quality players to keep things fresh. And not lose anyone. That is where we are right now.

Jonathan Prendergast wrote:I think the squad is fine.

But that could change. I would like to see how the squad goes with Podolski back. Does Wenger put him in central striker? Will he perform there? Will he score. Will he be useful off the bench and be able to make an impact?

The biggest issue with Podolski seems to be fitness. While he might not be very involved in the general build-up play etc, he can be very incisive in short bursts with assists and goals, especially when we are breaking at speed.

Meshaal wrote:

Jonathan Prendergast wrote:I think the squad is fine.

But that could change. I would like to see how the squad goes with Podolski back. Does Wenger put him in central striker? Will he perform there? Will he score. Will he be useful off the bench and be able to make an impact?

The biggest issue with Podolski seems to be fitness. While he might not be very involved in the general build-up play etc, he can be very incisive in short bursts with assists and goals, especially when we are breaking at speed.

Chasing a game, I'd much rather throw on Podolski than Bendtner.

We have a fine squad even if we don't sign anyone in January, but we all know, we need a small something extra in attack. Any player of Demba Ba's level would do fine. No need to spend more than 10-15m on a striker (and I wouldn't complain if we got a top class one).
We've seen Wenger signing just Eisfeld not so long ago when the squad was much weaker than the one we have now, and we've also seen Wenger bringing in Adebayor, Reyes, and Arshavin, so I wouldn't be surprised with whatever he chooses to do in January.

The only position we may need to buy is another striker in my opinion. Though with a fit squad we have a lot of depth and maybe Podolski can fill the spot of being an extra strike option when needed. Maybe see how he does leading up top January and if he does well, then I wouldn't mind, but if not then we need another striking option. Giroud, as much as I'm a fan, cannot play to his full potential every game and though I used to be a fan of Bendtner, and still think he can be a great asset to a club who uses him well if he adjusts a few mental things, he has lost the trust of Arsenal fans and it shows.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/9017498/transfer-news-arsenal-chief-executive-ivan-gazidis-targets-additional-striker - even Gazidis is publicly saying we may need to buy a striker in January so it may happen.

If we sign a striker, Bendtner's days are limited(if not already). Pato is a good shout. May be I'm becoming too skeptical, but Pato might not be suitable to play in England. Gazidis has shown a lot of false dawns in the past, but I think he means it this time. The club has shown we mean business, and we might try to get Suarez in January. And even after the loss against united, the display was good enough to tell me, on 2nd viewing, that we are genuine title contenders already!

Subrat Koirala wrote:And even after the loss against united, the display was good enough to tell me, on 2nd viewing, that we are genuine title contenders already!

In recent years, when we lost to United, we were outclassed, outwitted by their manager, but on Sunday, it felt like we lost to Everton, WBA, Newcastle, a solid mid-table team who were organized and knew what they were doing.

Vanig Bostanian wrote:

Subrat Koirala wrote:And even after the loss against united, the display was good enough to tell me, on 2nd viewing, that we are genuine title contenders already!

In recent years, when we lost to United, we were outclassed, outwitted by their manager, but on Sunday, it felt like we lost to Everton, WBA, Newcastle, a solid mid-table team who were organized and knew what they were doing.

and had a couple of players like Baines and Remy. haha

I think it is very possible we wont be signing anyone.

I also do not understand the idea of Pato at all.

We need a pacey intelligent striker like Aguerro or Suarez we need another dimension from Giroud and Sanogo who are target men.

Countless times already I've seen Ozil make a one two or a pass which to some people may seem terrible but its because the people he is passing to either doesn't have the mental or physical ability to get on the end of the pass, an area i'm hoping Walcott will make a big difference as Ozil will have an outlet behind people.

Thinking about that jerks I would second that....

Theo will make a huge difference.....who drops....

Thinking about that jerks I would second that....

Theo will make a huge difference.....who drops....

I think its 'Jenks' rather than 'Jerks'..

i would love to have aguerro in the team, he would fit in so perfectly. other than that i'd take suarez inspite of the baggage, dont really watch other league much so really cant comment. lewodski dunno how to spell would be ok or demba ba but only as replacement for bendtner.
honestly i would not start throwing stones if we didnt buy anyone in jan but a high quality signing like aguerro would not only add quality to the team but boost the team and fan morale, jst like ozil did. saying that wenger isnt the most generous of granddaddys so i dont think we will see an ozil esque signing in jan

sorry to rain on the parade, but the chance of any team signing Aguero right now is slim to none. and for numerous reasons. 1. He's one of the best strikers in the world right now. 2. City don't need to raise money by selling players, hence they won't sell. and surely not to an English club. Our best bet of a "top striker" is Suarez. and if we can't get him, I'm actually positive we'll get a decent striker on loan in Jan and then look to get someone permanently in the summer.

Lewandowski a replacement for Bendtner? Surely he's better than just that.

Jonathan Prendergast wrote:I think its 'Jenks' rather than 'Jerks'..

Bloody auto spell......lol

My bad jerks.....doh!!