Quite simply, RVP is the best and out and out striker in the world at the moment. But if Arsenal fail to get into the top four he'll surely be off to Spain. But who will replace him?
It’s safe to say that Arsenal skipper Van Persie is at the peak of his game and in the form of his life. But form like that doesn’t go unnoticed, so it is no surprise to see rumours circulating of a potential exit from the Emirates for the Arsenal captain. Man City, Barca and Real are all said to be interested, in an attempt to prize the striker away from North London. Whilst many Arsenal fan would want to believe that Robin Van Persie loves the club and would never leave, any player would be tempted by wages of such a nature.
If the worst should happen, one thing is for certain. Arsenal will need a new man to lead the line. Chamakh’s time as an Arsenal player appears to be coming to a close and Park is yet to have an impact in England. So who may Wenger turn to? You see names thrown around in the media, like Lukas Podolski, Edison Cavani, Mario Gomez and so on. However, all English fans are aware of the nature of Wenger’s transfer activity. He loves a player he can nurture and develop into a world-beater, like he’s done with Van Persie and like he has done many times before. Yet he also loves a good bargain. Despite stating he’d spend £40m on a player, if they were worth it, I highly doubt Van Persie’s replacement would be near that price tag. So here are five strikers who Arsene Wenger may be tempted by, all of whom would be available for under the £20m mark.
Seydou Doumbia – CSKA Moscow – 23
Seydou Doumbia is in the form of his life. With 23 goals in 30 games in the Russian Premier League, the Ivorian has proved a handful for opposition defences. Not only is he quick and athletic, but he also has power and physicality in abundance. With the poor form of Marouane Chamakh, Arsenal are lacking an effective aerial threat up front. Doumbia would provide that. Arsene Wenger may be even more tempted by the fact he’d be able to link up with fellow Ivorian International Gervinho. The Russian League may not be notorious for its world class standards, yet his goal return of 29 in 41 has given CSKA every chance of qualifying for the Champions League again next season. Regardless of the league he plays in, he clearly is a natural goalscorer. A January move is unlikely due to his participation in the African Nations Cup, but should the worst happen and Van Persie leave Arsenal, Wenger may be tempted by the African forward. Whilst Doumbia is not of Van Persie’s quality – in fairness very few are – he would be a good addition to the Arsenal squad.
Leandro Damiao – Internacional – 22
Wenger’s record with Brazilians has been somewhat hit and miss. Gilberto Silva and Edu were vital cogs in the title winning Invincibles side in 04-05 but Denilson and Julio Baptista failed to live up to expectations while in North London. However, Leandro Damiao is a Brazilian whose samba flair could be welcomed with open arms at The Emirates. In terms of Brazilian football, Damiao is somewhat over-shadowed by the over-hyped Neymar, but under the radar, Damiao has consistently kept the level of his game high. With 14 goals in 28 appearences for Internacional, he helped fire them to a sixth placed finish in The Brasileirao. Arsenal would face competition for the forward from a number of Europe’s big names. At just 22, the technically gifted striker would be a great signing for a host of elite clubs and despite the young age he can already be considered a ‘Complete Forward’. With bags of pace, plenty of power and an eye for goal, Damiao would be a great replacement for Robin Van Persie and could lead The Gunners front line for years to come.
The ideal scenario would to bring in any of the above players whilst Van Persie stays, but whether Wenger will do that and whether anyone would be prepared to play second fiddle to the Dutchman, is another question
Moussa Sow – Lille – 25
Lille forward Moussa Sow has been linked with Arsenal in the past and with the added presence of his former team-mate Gervinho at the Emirates, a move to North London is certainly not out of the question. Sow was a crucial part of the blistering attack that fired Lille to the Ligue 1 title last season and his power and pace in the middle of a three pronged attack proved a handful. With Gervinho and Hazard either side, the striker had top service and it benefited his game, as he finished top scorer in the league with an impressive 25 goals. This campaign has seen Sow net six times and weigh in with three assists from sixteen appearances in a new look Lille side. At only the age of 25, the Senegalese striker has his best years ahead of him. Sow has proven himself to be a powerful, yet agile striker. He’s a threat in the air and deceptively quick, so would certainly bolster the Gunners attacking options.
Roberto Soldado – Valencia – 26.
It’s been a stop-start career for Roberto Soldado. After failing to fulfil his promise as a youngster at Real Madrid, the striker was pushed down the pecking order at The Bernabeu as global superstars signed multi-million deals with the Spanish giants. His fantastic record as a Real Madrid B player wasn’t emulated whilst in the first team and in 2008, Soldado signed for Getafe. After two successful seasons with Getafe, he made a switch to Valencia in a €10m move. Since then, Soldado has repaid every penny in goals. With 9 goals in 15 games this season and 29 in 50 since his move, Soldado seems to finally be living up to his early potential. If his good form continues, it’s expected that he will lead the line for Spain at next summers European Championships, due to the injury to David Villa. Technically, he’s better than the other four players on this list. His movement is top class and he’s a big game player, as his brace against former side Real Madrid earlier this season showed. He’d be a pricier option, but at 26, the Spaniard has bags of experience and in Arsene Wenger’s new look side, he could thrive.
Luuk De Jong – FC Twente – 21
As Wenger’s record with Dutch players goes, it’s a pretty good one. His forages into the Dutch player market have seen him pluck out some of the best the Premier League has seen. Not only Robin Van Persie who is currently one of the worlds best players, but also flying winger Marc Overmars was played the best football of his career for Wenger. Given this record, may Arsene Wenger be tempted to delve into the Dutch market once again for one of Holland’s most wanted properties? Luuk De Jong has only emerged in recent seasons and is currently on fantastic form. 9 goals in 11 league games for FC Twente has seen his named linked with some of Europe’s elite. Despite being 21, he’s already made six senior appearances for the Netherlands, scoring a single goal. The youngster has bags of potential and his athleticism, work rate and technical ability make him a perfect fit for Arsenal. Despite Wenger’s recent signings being more experienced and proven, we know the Frenchman loves to nurture a young talent and make him a world beater. Could De Jong be the next jewel in his crown?
Robin Van Persie is a special talent and Arsene Wenger will be praying he holds onto his prized asset, but should he leave, Arsenal fans can live safe in the knowledge that quality replacements do exist. There are players who can come in and give Arsenal an extra dimension and really bolster the squad. The ideal scenario would to bring in any of the above players whilst Van Persie stays, but whether Wenger will do that and whether anyone would be prepared to play second fiddle to the Dutchman, is another question. Arsenal fans may worry that Wenger won’t make a big money, big name signing to replace his captain, but the names above show that big money isn’t necessary. Wenger is notoriously shrewd in the transfer market and signing any of the above would give further confirmation of that.
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