Following Theo Walcott’s season-ending injury against Tottenham last weekend in the FA Cup win, Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger has conceded that his side must look to bring in a striker during the January transfer the window.
Saying that is the easy part. But actually going out and doing it, especially in January, is incredibly hard.
However Wenger was upbeat despite the loss of Walcott and he cited the fact that Nicklas Bendtner should be back in three weeks, youngster Serge Gnabry is improving rapidly, Lukas Podolski has just returned from injury and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain isn’t far behind.
That gave Wenger hope that Walcott’s usual berth out wide on the right will be filled adequately during his absence, but Wenger believes the loss of Walcott as a stand-in forward is harmful to the squad and must be addressed.
“Up front we lose Theo as a potential central forward and that’s maybe where we have to look outside. But we hopefully have Bendtner back in three weeks. We are there for the opportunities but it’s very difficult at the moment.”
Very difficult means one of two things: A) Wenger is playing his cards close to his chest and trying to make the clubs whose players Arsenal have already bid for a little nervous. Result: price drop. B) Or he has seen the price of the players he wants and realizes there’s no way the Gunners can splash out $40-50 million on a top forward.
(MORE: Walcott injury sends Wenger, Arsenal searching for quick solutions at forward)
Either way, it shows how much of an issue losing Walcott to a ruptured ACL is.
Before the injury Wenger was quite bullish about Arsenal not needing to add a striker in the January transfer window. We all know this is the time when clubs get fleeced, so to speak, as strengthening in mid-season is always expensive, risky and less of an attractive proposition. The fact that Walcott can play out wide or up front (which he did incredibly well against Spurs) shows that he’s worth almost two players to Arsenal’s squad.
Wenger’s admission that he’s looking to strengthen also shows that Arsenal are willing to spend money to try and win the Premier League title. How much they spend and who they spend it on, will determine if their title bid is successful. A massive decision looms for Wenger and co.
Let’s see if they go for the cheap or extravagant option, as reluctantly the hunt for a new forward is well and truly underway at the Emirates.
