Arsenal have added to their attacking worries after revealing that first-choice striker Olivier Giroud will be out for the rest of the year with a fractured ankle.
This means Arsene Wenger has two choices, either to use the players he already has at his disposal with the likes of Yaya Sanogo and Alexis Sanchez filling in, or choose to splash the cash on some top replacements.
Although the Gunners boss has stated that he will not look to the market for another forward, he should still be keeping his options open.
So, with that in mind, here are EIGHT choices Wenger can consider when trying to fill the void left by Giroud.
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Loic Remy
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Name: Loic Remy
Age: 27
Position: Striker
Nationality: France
Club: Queens Park Rangers
Price: £8 – £11 million
Loic Remy was after a move throughout the summer and was close to a Liverpool switch until Brendan Rodgers cancelled his signing at the final minute. Despite this, he was continuously linked with a return to Newcastle United where he played at on loan from Queens Park Rangers last season.
Remy could be a reasonable target, both scoring-wise as well as pricewise as a bid of around £10 million would be enough to get a deal together with the transfer window deadline looming. Last season, whilst on loan with the Magpies he managed to bag 14 goals in 26 matches, something that could come in handy with the absence of Olivier Giroud.
Wilfried Bony
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Name: Wilfried Bony
Age: 25
Position: Striker
Nationality: Ivory Coast
Club: Swansea
Price: £10 – £15 million
Wilfried Bony was linked with a move to a English Premier League club with European football throughout the summer window and could yet make a switch to Arsenal after news of the Olivier Giroud injury.
Swansea saw his amazing scoring form at Dutch side Vitesse where he managed 31 league goals in 30 games before they decided to bring him over to England. Bony didn’t disappoint as he notched 16 goals in his 34 appearances in his debut season. He has admitted on multiple occasions his desire to join a top club, so should Arsene Wenger come knocking, a move could easily follow.
Radamel Falcao
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Name: Radamel Falcao
Age: 28
Position: Striker
Nationality: Colombia
Club: Monaco
Price: £45 - £50 million
Radamel Falcao was rather quiet the previous season after he suffered a long-term injury, ruling him out of many Ligue 1 games as well as the World Cup. However, should Arsenal complete a deal to sign the Colombian striker, they will be reinforced with one of the best strikers in the world.
Capable of playing all on his own, he has everything it takes to be a complete forward. He has height, power, as well as pace, so his addition will solve Arsene Wenger’s striking problems immediately. In the previous campaign he scored nine goals out of 17 league matches following his move from Atletico Madrid, where he scored a total of 52 goals in 68 appearances in only two seasons.
Mattia Destro
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Name: Mattia Destro
Age: 23
Position: Striker
Nationality: Italy
Club: Roma
Price: £15 - £20 million
Mattia Destro is a very reasonable replacement to the injured Olivier Giroud as he can function as a lone striker
given he has the support from his midfielders. His physical presence in the box gives him the ability to cause problems aerially as well as the power to out-muscle opposing players.
He played 20 matches in the Serie A last season, notching 13 goals and providing another two assist to his name, aiding his side to a second place finish. Arsenal may face a battle with title rivals Chelsea as Jose Mourinho is also believed to be monitoring the Italian front man.
Edinson Cavani
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Name: Edinson Cavani
Age: 27
Position: Striker
Nationality: Uruguay
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Price: £45 - £50 million
Edinson Cavani is ranked amongst the best strikers on the planet and is a sure goal scoring threat up top. His huge price tag can easily justify his ability to put the ball at the back of the net as he is used to being the main man in attack.
However, playing alongside another world class forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he never seemed to reach his full potential like he did during his Napoli days. In three consecutive Serie A seasons between 2010 and 2013, he managed 26 goals in 35 matches, 23 in 35, and 29 in 34. He did manage 16 in 30 from his debut year in the Ligue 1, so scoring isn’t something anyone should worry about.
Jackson Martinez
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Name: Jackson Martinez
Age: 27
Position: Striker
Nationality: Colombia
Club: Porto
Price: £28 - £32 million
Jackson Martinez is a very potent goal scorer and can easily take the place of Olivier Giroud at the top of the Arsenal attack. Playing in the Portuguese top division, he doesn’t really get the credit he deserves. However, a move to the Premier League can indeed make him a superstar if he can help the Gunners place the ball at the back of the net.
In the 2012-2013 campaign, Martinez bagged 26 goals in 30 appearances while he managed 20 in 30 the previous season. With two matches of this season being played, he has already added to his tally with two more. If he joins Arsene Wenger’s side, they may not even miss the likes of Giroud.
Javier Hernandez
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Name: Javier Hernandez
Age: 26
Position: Striker
Nationality: Mexico
Club: Manchester United
Price: £10 - £15 million
Javier Hernandez’s future at Manchester United is still uncertain, but his scoring ability has always been an attribute nobody can write off. Although given the role of ‘super-sub’, he often comes on and gets goals when the team needs him most.
However, failing to find any sort of form in his previous campaign, Hernandez managed only four goals in 24 appearances, a very different tally from his first year at Old Trafford. In his debut season, he managed 13 goals in 27 matches, something that he can reproduce if given more playing time.
Danny Welbeck
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Name: Danny Welbeck
Age: 23
Position: Striker
Nationality: England
Club: Manchester United
Price: £13 - £16 million
Danny Welbeck has already been told by Louis van Gaal that he can leave Manchester United should any club come knocking with Arsene Wenger recently revealing he was open to signing the striker. He has Premier League as well as Champions League experience, so a switch to the Emirates wouldn’t need much fitting in.
Last season, Welbeck played 25 league games for United, scoring nine goals in what was one of the worst campaigns for the entire club. His pace and dribbling ability will easily fit into the system Wenger deploys with the Gunners.