Arsenal FC: Analysis of strikers Chamakh, Bendtner and Van Persie for Gunners

With only one game left in this disappointing season for Arsenal, Wenger will be looking to analyze where his team went wrong in a season which promised much. They were in the running in four competitions but in a space of two weeks, their hopes for three of the trophies were extinguished and it had a significant psychological impact on the rest of the games in the Premier League.

Arsenal supporters are frustrated with the current trophy drought and are desperate for the team to win titles in the next season. The increase in ticket prices along with the Gunners’ shambolic performances towards the end of the season has added to the pressure on Arsene Wenger, who has come under a lot of fire from lots of supporters.

He has said that the club will look to strengthen the team in every position if there are players available in the summer. In this article, the strikers’ performances are examined and the possibility of adding a new centre forward is discussed.

Robin Van Persie – 21 goals, 8 assists

 

Van Persie was benched for the first two games after returning late from the world cup and in his first start of the season against Blackburn, he sustained an ankle injury because of which he missed most part of the first half of the season. Since the turn of the year, he has been in magnificent form scoring 21 goals and also procuring 8 assists this season.

His injury problems have meant that he has never played enough games for the Gunners but when he is fit and firing, he is surely one of the best strikers in the world. He has thrived playing as a striker in the 4-2-3-1 formation and has scored a number of important goals for the Gunners. His anticipation is fantastic and he has an excellent understanding with Fabregas and the other midfielders which is very important to be successful in the role of a striker.

While many in the team have lacked mental strength towards the end of the season, Van Persie has shown his fighting qualities and has tried his best to inspire the Gunners. His form in the second half of the season makes Arsenal fans wonder what might have been the case had he been fit for the entire season.

Highs of the season

This is only the second time that he has scored 20 goals in a campaign and he has achieved it at an excellent rate this season. His first hat-trick in his Arsenal career will be cherished by the Arsenal striker but it will be his equalizer against Barcelona that set the Emirates alight and provided the impetus for the Gunners to snatch a victory in unexpected circumstances.

Lows of the Season

For such a talented striker, it will be hard to digest the fact that he has not won a trophy for the last six years. His fitness problems meant a nonexistent first half of the season for Van Persie and he will have to hope that he is fit for the entire campaign, next season. He will forever remember his extremely harsh red card which sparked the defeat of the Gunners by Barcelona at the Nou Camp.

Marouane Chamakh – 11 goals, 4 assists

The Moroccan striker arrived from Bordeaux on a free transfer and was expected to bring in a more direct threat for the Gunners. Though he was expected to be the second striker behind Robin van Persie, the injury to the Dutchman provided the chance for Chamakh to start for the Gunners on a regular basis.

Though he started slowly, he became an integral part of the side and scored some decisive goals for Arsenal. He scored decisive goals against Wolves, Bolton, Partizan Belgrade, Bolton, Tottenham and Aston Villa but did not have good games against Manchester United and Chelsea.

He is a striker who has great aerial ability and has a excellent work rate which helps wear down defenders. His quick passing and movement creates chances for others but he has not finished well with his feet. He has to improve a lot on his shooting to be a regular striker and the way he faded off in the second half of the season due to fatigue is a concern.

Highs

Marouane Chamakh certainly had his moments in his debut season and he scored some very important goals for the Gunners. His best performance was undoubtedly against Wolves where he scored one seconds after the game started and one in the closing stages of the game to secure a 2-0 win in a difficult game. He brought in the aerial threat for the Gunners and made an impact with his aerial ability.

Lows

Though he had a good first half of the season, he would not have enjoyed being on the bench for most of the second part of the season in favour of the in-form Robin van Persie. Chamakh did admit that he was fatigued and that has contributed to his loss in form. He did not look confident in that period but will be looking to force his way into Wenger’s reckoning in the next season.

Nicklas Bendtner – 9 goals, 8 assists

Bendtner was injured early in the season and had to settle for a place on the bench when he returned to full fitness due to the good form of Marouane Chamakh. The confident Danish International was unhappy with his role at the club and rumours linked him to move to one of the Bundesliga clubs in January.

However, the striker stayed at Arsenal and played an important part in Arsenal’s run in the Carling Cup. Bendtner struck some important goals for Arsenal, none more so than his superb goal against Ipswich which was crucial in the tie. Bendtner also scored a hat-trick against Leyton Orient and has a decent tally of 9 goals this season considering he was not the preferred striker.

Though his favoured position is that of a centre forward, Wenger has often used the Dane on the wings much to the frustration of the player himself. His natural role is that of a striker but has not started many games in that role. With limited opportunities on offer for the Arsenal striker, there is a good chance that he will leave in the summer.

Highs

He scored the second hat-trick of his senior career in the game against Leyton Orient and did show his ability on some occasions like his second goal against Orient. He also scored a superb goal against Ipswich which was one of individual skill and talent and won the “Arsenal goal of the month” for January.

Lows

It was a season where he was expected to step up but has not received too much time due to injuries and the superb form of Robin van Persie.  Also, he has been played on the right wing where he has not been able to produce his best and has been frustrated because of playing out of position. However, the moment he will not want to remember this season will be his miss in the dying minutes of the Barcelona game at the Nou Camp where he had a great opportunity to eliminate the Catalans.

Carlos Vela

 

The Mexican has had a torrid season this year and has not enjoyed enough time on the pitch throughout the season. Though he scored some good goals coming on as a substitute early in the season, he did not receive opportunities to play an important role at any stage in the season.

Wenger retained the faith in Vela and did want to sell the striker instead opting to loan him to a Premier League club. Though Bolton were interested in him, his agent’s fee was too high and he eventually moved to West Bromwich Albion. However, even at West Brom, he has been benched for the majority of the games and his future at Arsenal is in doubt after playing very little throughout the season.

Though Vela is a talented player, he is a player who is not suited to the 4-2-3-1. He is a player who is effective in a central role complimenting another forward. If Wenger does not intend to change his tactics, then sadly Vela might never be able to fulfil his talent at Arsenal and might move to some other club.

Should Wenger Bring in a New Striker and Who are the Options?

Wenger will have some major decisions to make regarding his transfer policy which has come under scrutiny. Though Van Persie has been great in the second half, his injury record is quite poor and the Gunners cannot rely on him to last a full season. Though Chamakh had a decent first half of the season, he cannot be a first team option until he significantly improves his shooting with his feet.

Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela are good talents but have not enjoyed much playing time at the Emirates. Also, they are at a crucial time in their career where they need to play regularly in order to develop into fine players and more importantly, retain their places in their National sides. Bendtner has been warned by the Danish manager that he needs to play regularly and playing on the wing has only contributed to the frustration.

Chamakh has not been prolific throughout his career and the Gunners are craving for someone who could bang in more than 20 goals a season on a regular basis. Since the departure of Thierry Henry, only ex-Arsenal striker Adebayor and Van Persie have scored 20 goals in a season. It is likely that Wenger will target a striker who can score vital goals for the Gunners if as expected Nicklas Bendtner leaves the Emirates.

 

Arsenal have been linked to a few strikers and as expected, it is French! Karim Benzema who is an excellent talent might be interested in a move to Arsenal to link up with many of his French team mates including the likes of Nasri and Sagna. The Real Madrid striker has been amongst the goals this season but might stiff competition to start games next season.

Also, the Gunners have been linked with a move for Lorient’s Kevin Gameiro who is rated highly but has a small physique. He has shown that he can score goals in the France league and could be targeted by Wenger. Also, the aforementioned strikers are both versatile and can play as wing forwards or wingers.

Wenger is known for signing players who are very less known around the world and so, it would not be a shock if he did sign someone unknown to solve his striker problem. Also, whatever be the case with signings, it is imperative that Robin van Persie stays fit for most of the season as he is someone who can make a big difference for the Gunners.

Arsenal Transfer Revamp: How can Arsene Wenger build a World Class team

After encountering another trophy-less season for the Gunners, the manager Arsene Wenger will be under immense pressure to end this trophy drought. If reports are to be believed, Stan Kroenke, the new owner of the club, has promised the manager with a large transfer kitty of around 40 million. The manager has insisted that he only needs minor adjustments to the squad but with the Gunners enduring six years of frustration, he might be forced to bring in some experienced players.

Wenger admitted that he would have to meet a number of frustrated players in the Arsenal squad including the likes of Andrei Arshavin and Nicklas Bendtner and would have to discuss their futures in the summer. There have also been a number of players who have been linked with Arsenal and the manager could be looking at some of them to bolster the squad in the summer.

This article discusses the potential transfers within the budget of the manager which could result in a world class team which can challenge for titles in the future.


1. Scott Parker- 8 million

The West Ham United midfielder has attracted a lot of interest from the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City but if Wenger is prepared to spend the required money, Parker might sign for Arsenal. His signing will be of great help for the Gunners as he will provide cover for the troublesome area of defensive midfield where there is no competition for Song.

Also, he is vastly experienced in the Premiership and plays alongside Wilshere in the National team. The midfielder can quite easily slot in the role of Wilshere if needed and can start attacks by driving in from midfield and more importantly, he has superb commitment on the pitch.

If the midfielder is signed, he can guide youngsters like Frimpong and Ramsey to have good mental strength
because the Englishman has faced a lot of disappointments in his career and has shown great mentality to establish a place in the England team at the age of 31.

2. Eden Hazard - 15 million

The Belgian winger has attracted the interest of a number of big clubs and Arsenal are amongst the clubs who have been monitoring his progress. Lille have established a healthy lead at the top of the table and Hazard has been an integral part of the side after suffering a slow start to the season.

Arsenal have been interested in signing the winger as the replacement for Andrei Arshavin who is likely to depart the Emirates after being benched for a number of games this season. If Arshavin does indeed leave as expected, Arsenal could make a move for the Lille winger who signed a new contract recently.

However, the new contract will not hamper him from making his move but the Gunners could be forced to spend around 15 million to secure his services in the summer.

3. Karim Benzema - 20 million / Kevin Gameiro - 10 million

Nicklas Bendtner is set to have showdown talks with Arsene Wenger regarding his future and Wenger could allow the Dane to leave. Robin van Persie is a striker of the highest quality but he has been injured for a number of matches in his Arsenal career and Wenger is expected to sign a new striker in the summer if Bendtner does leave.

Karim Benzema is a young French International who has the capability to do extremely well in the future. The striker has been prolific for Lyon and in this season, he has found his goalscoring for Real Madrid. However, if Madrid do sign a high profile striker like Didier Drogba or Carlos Tevez, then Benzema could be eager to leave the club in order to enhance his prospects of playing regularly.

However should Madrid opt not to sell the striker or price him out of a move to Arsenal, Wenger could look to sign Lorient striker Kevin Gameiro who has been superb this season for the French side. The versatile striker could be an excellent addition for the Gunners despite his small size, his movement and goalscoring ability enables him to be prolific.

Radamel Falcao is another striker whom Wenger could be looking at but it is likely that FC Porto will look to retain his services and after his record breaking exploits this season, he could be priced out of Arsenal's range and even if he is signed, he would demand a regular starting place at Arsenal, which cannot be guaranteed.

4. Per Mertesacker - 10 million

Though Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka have been rumored to be tracked by the Gunners, Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker could be a solid addition for Arsenal. The Gunners have a distinct lack of height in their team and have conceded a number of goals on set-pieces. Mertesacker is a very tall defender and is extremely good on set-pieces.

The only accusation labeled against him is his lack of pace but his positioning is immaculate and makes up for his limitations. Besides, Thomas Vermaelen is likely to start every game for Arsenal if he is fit but the Belgian centre back has a tendency to be caught too high up the pitch at times. The Germany International excels in the sweeper role alongside a more aggressive defender and could be the ideal fit for Arsenal.

5. Leighton Baines - 10 million

Arsenal will not need to sign a left back if Gael Clichy signs a new contract with the Gunners in the summer but if he does not, then the manager is likely to sign a new left back because Kieran Gibbs has not been impressive this season. However another option for the manager is to play Vermaelen or Eboue at left back but it is unlikely considering Eboue's poor form and Vermaelen's experience in the centre.

One option for Arsenal is to sign the Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen, who is very capable of playing as a left back and allow Kieran Gibbs the time to develop by providing him time against lesser oppositions. Vertonghen would cost around 15 million but considering his versatility, it could be an intelligent buy by Wenger, who should target him if not Mertesacker.

Baines has been in superb form throughout the season for Everton and is experienced in the Premiership. He has great attacking qualities and though he has not got the burning pace of Clichy, he has good stamina and can be solid in defence as well as make marauding runs down the left flank.

How to generate the money required for these new signings?

1. Denilson - 4 million

The Brazilian midfielder is one of those Arsenal players who is most likely to move on after receiving extremely less playing time this season. He cannot be an effective substitute for Song and has not shown enough desire to be attacking.

It is probable that Arsenal will sell the midfielder because he is considered excess to the requirements of Arsenal and it is likely that Emmanuel Frimpong will receive more playing time in the Carling Cup and other matches where Song and Parker are injured.

2. Abou Diaby - 6 million

The French International is a talented midfielder who has suffered ever since he sustained a broken ankle early in his Arsenal career. He has been troubled by injuries throughout his time at Arsenal and has only made 19 appearances this season and has been repeatedly injured after playing four or five games consecutively.

Though Wenger likes Diaby, the Frenchman is far too injury prone and is currently not needed in this Arsenal team which has the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere who are very capable of playing in his role alongside the defensive midfielder.

3. Andrei Arshavin - 8 million

Though Arshavin has very good statistics this season, the same cannot be said of his performances and there has been an alarming dip in his pace this season. He has struggled to recapture the form that made Wenger splash the cash to acquire his services. Arshavin is undoubtedly a quality player but he has not shown enough work rate to justify his place in the team.

Also, being the captain of Russia, he will want to play regularly which will not be the case at Arsenal and the fact that he has only one year on his contract would indicate that the player is likely to move.

4. Sebastien Squillaci - 4 million

The French International was signed for Sevilla for a fee close to 5 million and has struggled toform a successful partnership with Laurent Koscielny. The French centre back has not been impressive in his debut season with the club and it will be no surprise if Wenger conveys to the defender that he has no future at the club.

Though it will be unfortunate for Squillaci if Arsenal decide to sell him after only one season, the club needs to challenge for the highest honours and bring in quality players in order to win trophies.

5. Nicklas Bendtner - 8 million

The Danish striker believes that he is certainly one of the best strikers in the world and though he is talented, his performances on the pitch have not been impressive. He has hardly been a prolific striker and Wenger's decision to play him on the right wing has not gone down with the tall striker.

Bendtner is expected to have showdown talks with Wenger in the summer but with clubs interested in acquiring him, the Dane might opt to leave the club.

6. Gael Clichy - 10 million

The French left back has only one year of his contract remaining and should he not extend it, it is quite likely that Arsenal will be prepared to sell him to any club interested in meeting their valuation and signing him. If he does extend his contract, Arsene Wenger will persist with him and is likely to not make a move for any other left back.

Clichy has made mistakes this season but it is difficult to find quality left backs for the right price. Gibbs has been unimpressive this season and Wenger would like Clichy to stay at the Emirates and sign a new deal.

7. Tomas Rosicky - 6 million

Rosicky is a player who was expected to provide the creativity for Arsenal when he signed from Borussia Dortmund. However since recovering from his long term injury, he has not been able to capture his best form and has looked lacklustre in a number of games this season. Though he has been fit for most of the season, he has watched from the bench as he has not been preferred by Wenger.

For someone who promised so much early in his Arsenal career, his inability to recapture his best form has been a disappointment for Arsenal.

Transfers In:

Scott Parker – 8 million

Per Mertesacker-10 million

Kevin Gameiro – 10 million / Karim Benzema – 20 million

Leighton Baines – 8 million

Eden Hazard – 15 million

Total money to be spent- 51 million (or 61 million if Benzema is available)


Transfers Out:

Denilson – 4 million

Abou Diaby – 6 million

Andrei Arshavin – 8 million

Gael Clichy – 10 million

Tomas Rosicky – 6 million

Nicklas Bendtner – 8 million

Sebastien Squillaci – 4 million

Total Money which can be recouped- 46 million

(all the estimated transfer prices are in Pounds)


The Arsenal team after these transfers

Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny/ Lukasz Fabianski/Vito Mannone

RB: Bacary Sagna/Emmanuel Eboue

LCB: Thomas Vermaelen/Laurent Koscielny/Kyle Bartley

RCB: Johan Djourou/Per Mertesacker(or) Jan Vertonghen

LB: Leighton Baines (or) Gael Clichy/Kieran Gibbs/Thomas Vermaelen

CDM: Alex Song/Scott Parker/Emmanuel Frimpong

CM: Jack Wilshere/ Scott Parker/Aaron Ramsey

CAM: Cesc Fabregas/Samir Nasri/Aaron Ramsey

RW: Samir Nasri/Theo Walcott/Jay Emmanuel Thomas

LW: Eden Hazard/Samir Nasri/ Kevin Gameiro

CF: Robin van Persie/ Kevin Gameiro/ Marouane Chamakh

Arsenal FC: Why Arsene Wenger Should Allow Nicklas Bendtner to Quit the Club

Will this miss cost Bendtner his Arsenal career?

Arsene Wenger is a manager who has been reluctant to discuss the futures of his Arsenal players in the media but he admitted that he could have important meetings with a number of disgruntled players. He could have a busy summer regarding transfers and he will be keen to sort out the futures of fringe players like Nicklas Bendtner and Tomas Rosicky.

The manager has placed a lot of faith in his players and many players including the likes of Wojciech Szczesny and Barcary Sagna have admitted that they have let him down. Wenger has made it clear that he would like to keep Nicklas Bendtner at Arsenal and that he would have crunch talks with the Danish striker.

Robin van Persie's form in the second half of the season has practically meant that the best that Bendtner can hope for is playing time as a substitute when the Dutchman has been fit. The tall striker has been linked with a move to the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and Hamburg being the clubs linked with a move to sign him.
The situation regarding the future of Nicklas Bendtner's future can be focused on looking at the possible transfer from the perspectives of Arsenal and the player himself.

Arsenal's Perspective

Arsene Wenger has believed that the Dane is a very talented player and he has improved his game in the last couple of years. He was immense in the latter part of the 2009-10 season where he scored a number of vital goals but he has been a peripheral part of the team this season with both Marouane Chamakh and Robin van Persie ahead of Bendtner.

The manager has accommodated the striker by using him on the right wing where he has been ineffective for large parts of the season. He is not ruthless in his finishing and has squandered a number of decent opportunities when provided the chance in the Arsenal first team. Most Arsenal supporters still remember the squandered opportunity to knock out Barcelona from the Champions League in the closing stages of the game and his profligacy has proved to be costly for Arsenal on a number of occasions.

Though the Dane is still young and can develop into a decent striker, he is certainly not going to be pleased to be playing second fiddle to Robin van Persie even if he gets the nod above Chamakh. The club will probably gain a sum of around £8 million from his possible transfer and can use it wisely to acquire a new striker.

Kevin Gameiro is an exciting young prospect, who has been impressive for Lorient this season. The French striker has scored over 20 goals in this season and he can play on either wing along with his favored role as a centre forward. Arsenal have good relations with the French club after their signing of Laurent Koscielny and could move for the youngster who will cost around £10 million.

Big Decisions to make for Arsene Wenger

There are some other exciting strikers who could be available at the right price and Wenger could be monitoring their progress.The club could sign a striker who could score vital goals in the absence of Robin van Persie, who has missed a number of games in his time at Arsenal due to various injuries.


Nicklas Bendtner's Perspective

From the point of view of the player, it is quite understandable that you do want more playing time at this stage in his career. He is a player who is confident of his abilities and believes that he needs to be starting regularly for the Gunners. However, the formation of 4-2-3-1 will mean that Robin van Persie will currently occupy that role and chances to start in the Premier League and the Champions League will be hard to come by if the Dutchman is fit.

He is a regular for the Denmark National team and has been decent for his country. However spending time on the Arsenal bench, which will be the case if van Persie is fit, will hamper his chances to play for his country. At the age of 23, it is important that he plays regularly because he can develop into a quality player only by playing more games.

It is good that he shows the ambition to play regularly but he has not done enough in the opportunities provided by the Arsene Wenger. Though Wenger believes in the talent of Bendtner, he will not be able to provide regular opportunities for him in the role of a centre forward. It will be a difficult decision to make for Bendtner given the fact that he has been at Arsenal from a very young age but he needs to move in order to develop as a quality striker.


What Is Most Likely To Happen In the Summer Transfer Window?

Though Wenger will try to convince the Danish International to stay at the Emirates, it is unlikely that the striker will be provided with the guarantee of a place in the first team. It might force him to look for a different club where he has a good chance of starting games on a regular basis. There is a good possibility that Bendtner will move on after making just three starts in the Premier League.

Wenger will also attempt to bring in a replacement for Bendtner which is likely to be a forward like Kevin Gameiro who could be available at a price of around £10 million. If the manager cannot find any centre forward in that range, he is likely to use youngsters Carlos Vela and Jay Emmanuel Thomas to make up the squad though Chamakh will be the second striker behind Robin van Persie.

In an ideal scenario, if Wenger can sign a striker like Gameiro or Falcao, it is expected that he will let Bendtner move on to another club in order to gain playing time and it will be beneficial to both the club and the player.