Another Premier League season draws increasingly closer and already injury problems have occurred at Arsenal – the major one being to Robin van Persie, who looks likely to miss the Premier League opener against Newcastle and Champions League first-leg against Udinese.
The Dutch striker wasn’t able to feature in the second half against Benfica last Saturday due to a knee problem, which left many fans worried and restless.
RVP, who netted 22 goals for Arsenal (18 in the Premier League), missed 10 weeks of last season after picking up an ankle injury in late August last year.
With Van Persie being our only major threat upfront, I ask – can we rely solely on the Dutchman to fire us to silverware this season? In my opinion, I don’t think so.
The 28-year-old is a fantastic player, but for whatever reason, he seems to pick up these injuries that rule him out for far too long. I understand Wenger’s reasons for bringing in Gervinho, who with any luck will do brilliantly for Arsenal, but I still feel we need to acquire another striker as a back-up option.
I know we have Nicklas Bendtner amongst the ranks, but he is highly likely to leave the Emirates sometime this month. Besides, he has already stated that he wants to go, so I think we need to replace him with someone who is going to be consistent.
We do have Marouane Chamakh to consider. However, despite the Moroccan’s bright start last season, his form dropped and rarely featured for us when RVP returned – so a slight concern there.
If we don’t manage to bring in another striker (which we probably won’t) then I believe we should consider Theo Walcott for the role. I think having two quick players on the flanks, with Walcott and Gervinho up front, would be very beneficial for us, should RVP pick up a knock.
Let’s hope that this week sees our club clear up the problems with Nasri and Fabregas and also bring in some transfers that we so desperately need.
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RvP got badly tackled, I like to see you walk let alone continue playing after that.
Err… I am not saying he wasn’t injured or that he should have walked it off…I am simply saying that Arsenal should look at buying a backup for RVP because if he does get injured then we are likely to have problems
Bendtner n Chamakh can do the job perfectly well! BUT only if you and like-minded bloggers stop your negative analysis!!!
No You didn’t mention that tackle though did you! Instead of wishing him well and getting behind him and saying what an awful tackle it was (studs down the back of the leg that made him buckle his knee) you come across with Oh RvP is injured again.. typical sensationalist negative reporting.
Actually….yes I did get behind him and wish him the best with his injury the same I did with Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and numerous other Arsenal players.
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Everybody except Wenger has seen the areas of deficiencies in Arsenal team. We need another striker, two defenders etc. Wenger says he has quality in this team. Signs are already showing he is wrong. Let us see how far he goes with the challenge for the league title. As for me, the fans have already said enough but the Boss has the final say.
Van Persie is suspended for the first leg anyway! Red card…. Camp Nou ring any bells?
Personally i am not comfortable with any of our 3 back up strikers (Bendtner, Chamakh or Vela) I would like to see all 3 sold and 3 purchased. one cheap (Campbell) one mid range (Defoe, Doyle, Cole, Podolski) and one top notch (Benzema, Falcao, Higuain, Eto)
I think we could get Carlton Cole and Scott Parker for around £12m (about what we should get for Eboue and Bendtner, in fact why not set up a swap?) and why not take Matthew Upson on a free he has to be better than Squillaci. Apparantly we had a scout at West Ham yesterday, then again i think we had scouts at nearly every match at the weekend. Joey Barton on a free has to be worth a gamble as well. We could even say first sign of your ugly side and the deal is over. We seriously need to consider what is going to happen in January when we could lose up to 7 players to the African Cup of Nations.
Scott Parker was shyte at the weekend for the Irons, he was one on one with the keeper about 6 yards ahead of the last defender and got easily caught and tackled. I believe Chamakh will come good, he had a great fisrt half to last season but look knackered from january onwards. Anyway you lot a so frigging quick to boot your supposed team and players down, why dont you go back out rioting tonight you spuds
“first sign of the ugly side and you`re out” , that sounds fair enough. A good strong disciplinarian in the dressing room to tread on his head and (whilst I`m no fan of his) I think you`re right, Barton could be of value, a `stick man` as they say in rugby league. As for Falcao? What can I say? He`s just not available.
you muppet – YOU MUPPET
suppose the riots in Islington, Oxford Circus, Brixton, etc, etc are all spuds too.
MUG!
Are you sure you werent out rioting because you seem really angry with the statement that we need to sign a backup player for RVP. Bendtner has expressed a desire to leave the squad so we will need another striker.
Even with Chamakh who I do rate and have come to the defence of in these very articles still needs time and games I simply do not want to see Arsenal going another year without a trophy.
i ee nothing wrong with the article…he just said we need backup as RVP is always getting injured…isnt that a fact???
Bendtner is leaving, Chamakh is a big (?)question mark, Walcott is unproven in the centre, Gervhino prefers to play wide, Asharvin doen`t like the centre, Vela is not a lone striker so we definately need a powerhouse in the middle, RVP will not last the distance.Personally I would have snatched Andy Carol instead of letting him go to Liverpool, then again I said the same about Torres.
wenger , you should had bought falcao when you had the chance for 14 mil pounds in 2010!! he is what arsenal needs!! a hitman!!!