With Arsenal in need of a striker to come in and help Olivier Giroud with the goals, former Gunner Perry Groves reckons Arsene Wenger and co. should attempt to lure Dimitar Berbatov to the Emirates to boost their chances of winning the Premier League title this season.
Despite sitting on top of the Premier League table, one point ahead of Manchester City, Arsenal have been linked with a host of strikers with the January transfer window just days away from opening.
Diego Costa, Javier Hernandez and Karim Benzema are but a few names been linked with Arsenal, but Groves believes his former club would be wise to steal Berbatov from Fulham for around £2 million, with the Bulgarian ready to call it quits at Craven Cottage.
Groves recently told talkSPORT.com:
‘The top teams aren’t going to let their best players go and you want quality to go in. You could probably get him [Berbatov] for a million or £2m for the last six months of his contract.
‘He is in a team that’s struggling because he won’t close full-backs down, he won’t go in the channels. But I think, he thinks he’s too good for Fulham. Sometimes his body language is, ‘what am I doing here? They can’t even feed me the ball’.
‘If he goes to Arsenal he’s not going to think he’s better technically than the Arsenal players, he’ll think, ‘oh I’ve got players on my level’. Basically it’s a no brainer. If you got a year-and-a-half out of him, which I think you can, then he will be a brilliant option if you want to rest [Olivier] Giroud. He wouldn’t alter the team pattern at all.’
To be honest, having read Groves’ comments it makes sense for Wenger to go for Berbatov. He has superb technique and also possesses a def touch and great awareness. And for £2 million it’s, like Groves says, a no-brainer for Arsenal to go for the 32-year-old.
I have no doubt in my mind that Berbatov would do a job for us, even if it’s only for a year-and-a-half.
Should Wenger turn his attention to Berbatov this January? Is it a no-brainer?
Let us know what you think below
Perry Groves does talk a lot of shit.
Berbatov is a fraction of the player he used to be, slow & lazy, a ridiculous signing!
Perry Groves = shit player, shit pundit.
no he should go for costa or benzema
Did you not read the article? ‘The top teams aren’t going to let their best players go and you want quality to go in. Who is going to sell a top notch player in the January window? Learn to read people
The point is we might not get one of these top strikers leaving their respective clubs now…I really think wenger should go for berba…he’s nto any worst than Giroud
Good player but no.. why don’t we offer £25m for lewendolski would be an absolute steal for that price, I know he could move on a free in the summer but let’s secure it with a nice fat suitcase of cash heading on a plane to dortmand! Cdm is crucial aswel
An absolute steal in what sense? Are you aware of what goes on in world football, because if you did, you would know that Lewndoski’s contract is about to expire and that no club in their right mind would spend that kind of money on him
An absolute sense in what sense? Are you aware of what goes on in world football, because if you did, you would know that Lewndoski’s contract is about to expire and that no club in their right mind would spend that kind of money on him
Balotelli could be a good buy if he’s for sell
He is too lethargic. That is why ManU got rid of him. I think he is past his prime and Arsenal need to look at better prospects. We know Giroud is not good enough with his lack of agility and speed, and no team would trade their strikers in the middle of the season.So Arsenal need to be utilize their resources intelligently this season. They should employ Podolski more centrally ( he can pick up plays down the field) against skilled defenses , assisted by Walcott or Serge Gnarby from the wings, and use Giroud against more physical but static defenses.
I think Podolski will be central to Arsenal’s success if he stays fit ( either as a striker or a winger). He is closest to the missing front man in RVP. Maybe Bendtner should be tried more often, since Giroud has not been producing much lately. Bendtner will perform better if the Manager gives him his vote of confidence.
If the option is berba or nobody, take the experienced premier league striker
I think we should try and go for jackson Martinez,it should be possible to get him in january.
Berba will fit in with arsenal with ease as his football brain is superb, he is highly skillfull, holds the ball well and not as lackadaisical as Giroud. Will actually teach Giroud. He is so tricky, effective and efficient. He is the missing link. In arsenal shirt i guarantee you 2 goals per 45 minutes with the type of supply we have.