Striking Opportunities

As we enter the final couple of weeks of 2011, we are fast approaching the opening of the January transfer window. Therefore, the transfer rumour mill has already gone into overdrive, with various players from European clubs being linked to anyone and everyone.

Arsene Wenger has already mentioned that he’d be interested in signing a striker in January, “if an opportunity turns up”. So the aim of this blog is to look at a few of the players being linked with a move to the Emirates.

Lukas Podolski

Current Club: FC Koln

Reported Value: £15-20m

First we have German International Lukas Podolski; 26 years old, 95 International caps for Germany (with 43 goals), and plenty of European experience with Bayern Munich. Despite not having the best goal scoring record at club level, he’s found his feet this season, bagging 13 goals in 14 starts for Koln and also helping himself to five assists too.

There are two schools of thought about Podolski. One says he is a quality player, with bags of pace, determination and the sort of aggression and desire that would make him a fans favourite at any club. The other states that he can be a quality player; but is prone to laziness and can even be disruptive if he doesn’t get his way (e.g. regular game time, as we saw when he was at Bayern Munich).

Judging by this season, he’s played some excellent football and is finally replicating the form he’s shown for Germany at club level. He also recently stated that if he were to move, it would be to a club abroad and not to another one in Germany.

This, and the fact his contract expires in the summer of 2013, means we can expect to see Podolski on the move, and certainly not playing for Koln at the start of next season. Will he move to Arsenal though? Well, Arsene Wenger has recently said he has no interest in signing the German, and we all know what that means.

Chance of him signing: 70%

Marco Reus

Current Club: Borussia Mochengladbach

Reported Value: Release clause of €17.5m

Regarded as one of the hottest properties in the Bundesliga, 22-year-old Marco Reus is attracting attention from several of Europe’s elite. Reus has scored ten times in 14 appearances in the German league this season, and as a result has earned honours with the Senior German National side too.

With his ability to play through the middle or out wide, he would offer Arsene Wenger a lot more than some of the other potential transfer targets. Add to this his exceptional pace, and great technique and dribbling ability, and it’s not hard to see why Bayern Munich and Manchester City also heavily admire Reus.

Contracted till 2015, but his buy out clause of just over £15m would mean Arsenal wouldn’t have to break the bank to get a player who is surely likely to rise to bigger and better things than he’s already capable of. That’s some thought, too.

A Wenger type signing, and recommended by club hero Jens Lehmann, Reus would be a fantastic addition, who might not shine instantly, but would be a fantastic long-term player.

Chance of him signing: 60%

Fernando Torres

Current Club: Chelsea

Reported Value: £20m

Yep, it has been reported that Chelsea would be willing to cash in on their £50m flop Fernando Torres. Manager Andre Villas-Boas has since claimed there is no chance of Torres being sold, and I’d personally be absolutely shocked if the Spaniard was allowed to leave.

However, Torres has been an unused sub in Chelsea’s last two Premier League games, and his goal scoring record is definitely not something to be shouting about, £50m or not. He’s horrifically out of form, and probably becoming increasingly frustrated about this lack of opportunities in the first team.

This takes nothing away from the fact that he is a world-class striker. No doubt. He has the record and stats to support that, but something just hasn’t clicked since his move to Chelsea. Injury hasn’t helped, but I’ve no doubt that he will re-find the effective goal scoring boots he has so often worn. Doubtful that he’ll reach the same level he was at during his finest moments at Liverpool and for Spain, but he’ll be back. I’m sure of it.

And I truly believe that Arsene Wenger would be the best man to bring that form back. But I can’t see it happening. Not even slightly. If Chelsea were to sell, it would likely be to Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Manchester City. I’m not sure anyone else could afford the gamble. So for that reason, it’s a nice thought, but let’s not get our hopes up on this one.

Chances of signing: 1%

Thierry Henry

Current Club: New York Red Bulls

Reported Value: Loan deal

The murmurs of a sensational return to Arsenal colours for Thierry Henry have grown momentum as of late. Henry has been back at the club training during the MLS off-season, and in case anyone had forgotten the love that the record goal scorer has for the club, his emotional showing at the unveiling of his statue outside the Emirates as part of the 125 year Anniversary of the club will have been more than enough to remind you.

There’s no denying his affection for the club, or the effort that he’d put in should he be signed. But how effective would Henry be as a player, if he came back to play? The standard of the MLS is a lot lower than what we are use to in the Premier League. Henry has excelled out in America, but I’m not convinced he’d reproduce that back over here.

And what would that mean? Would it damage his reputation amongst Arsenal fans? Would it ruin the legacy he worked so hard to create? Would he even lose respect? Probably not to all three, but it would be a major disappointment if Henry returned and was unable to produce the goods. No doubt he’d be a huge inspiration for the players and the fans, but I can’t help but think this is a risk not worth taking.

Let’s not hide from the fact that this is a very possible signing, though. If no one else comes in before him, don’t be surprised to see it happen. But legendary Arsenal tweeter @DarrenArsenal1 said it best this morning I think. “The clubs motto is ‘Forward’, let’s act that way”.

Chances of signing: 40%

This is just a quick look at four of the players linked with a January move to Arsenal. One thing is for sure, with Marouane Chamakh a) playing like crap, and b) off to the African Nations Cup (along with Gervinho), and with Andrei Arshavin off-colour, and Park Chu-Young yet to fully adapt to the English game, fresh blood is definitely needed up top.

Theo Walcott is playing better than ever, and we should also expect Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to get more game time, after a string of impressive displays in Cup and European fixtures. And I don’t need to say anything about the form of captain Robin van Persie. But injuries to either RVP or Walcott, and we find ourselves seriously thin up front. Especially if we lose RVP, we have no regular goal scorer, which could be disastrous in our continued push for Champions League football next year.

Podolski and Reus, the talented Germans, are the favoured choice amongst media outlets and most fellow Gooners that I’ve spoken too. If I could pick, I’d go for Reus. Younger, slightly cheaper, and more likely to improve with Wenger’s love and care.

But this is Arsene Wenger we’re talking about here. So who knows what’ll happen. However, don’t expect Le Boss to give too much away between now and the end of January. And anything he does say, anticipate the opposite. I mean, it’s not fun if it’s easy to guess, is it?