Squad Profile: Strikers

In today's final installment of Fab 4 Arsenal's Squad Profile articles, we're going to take a look at Arsenal's strikers. Now at the time of Thierry Henry's departure it seemed pretty evident that we were no longer going to be getting 30+ goals from our strikers during the season, and that the team as a whole would have to be stronger and score more goals in order for us to compete. While this is partially true, we in fact did end up getting 30 goals from the striking department last season, and it was all thanks to one man who we will talk about shortly. On to the review then...

Eduardo da Silva no.9

Pos.: CF (centre forward), SS (supporting striker)

OVR: 86 (see key at bottom)

Analysis:

Get well soon Eduardo. It's a phrase I utter not only because of my concern for the player but also because Eduardo was astounding for us last season. He, like Arsene Wenger predicted, had a hard time of it during the first half of the season last year while he adapted to the English game, but when he finally adapted, around the end of December, he exploded into goal-scoring form. Smashing in goals almost every week, including some composed goals against Everton and Burnly (in the F.A. Cup) and an amazing goal against Manchester City in February. But then it all went wrong, terribly wrong. Thanks to a certain Martin Taylor, whose Birmingham team have since suffered the "Arsenal Curse" in terrible fashion, Eduardo was left only minutes away from losing his entire foot. Only some quick miracle work from the doctors at a local hospital allowed Eduardo any chance of returning. When he finally does come this autumn we as Arsenal fans must hope that he will return to his goal-scoring form. One thing is for sure: he's earned a place in many an Arsenal fan's heart.

Robin van Persie no.11

Pos.: SS

OVR: 87

Analysis:

Robin van Persie is probably the most technically gifted player at Arsenal. He's the best pure footballer we have at the club and can be, along with Fabregas, our best player on the pitch. He has a powerful left foot, sumptuous volley, great eye for goal, is never afriad to have a go at goal, and provides killer passes. Unfortunately RVP seems to be made of glass. He has played less than 30 games for Arsenal in the last 2 seasons. His lack of fitness is frankly alarming. He must know the Arsenal medical staff intimately and is probably mates with all of them; in fact he may know them better than a few of his Arsenal team-mates. When van Persie graces the pitch on form (he is often off-form right after an injury, as is to be expected) he is amazing, and I think every single Arsenal fan may have one major wish for this season: Robin van Persie stays fit. If he does, and stays on form, we may well make a serious bid for silverware on multiple fronts this season.

Carlos Vela no.12

Pos.: CF, LWM (left-wing midfield)

OVR: 80

Analysis:

Our young Mexican starlet could well be a superstar of the future. Carlos Vela is seen by most insode and outside observers as the biggest young talent to come out of Mexico since the great Hugo Sanchez. He possesses great ball control, trickery on the ball, good passing, and promising developing finishing. Vela was used on the left wing by Osasuna last season while he was on loan there but is seen by Arsene Wenger as one in the "Eduardo-type" mold. He has so far only used Vela as a centre forward this season and I must say he has performed admirably there. His cameo against Newcastle in the last 20 minutes of our 3-0 win was impressive. He wasn't afraid to run at players, he seemed to be able to hold onto the ball even in a crown of players, and he wasn't afraid to shoot, although unfortunately none of his shots came to anything on this occasion. However in the future I can see his finishing, along with Theo's, improving. In five or six years, assuming both stay at the club until then, Vela and Walcott could well be our very very potent attacking lineup. Theo would provide the speed and good finishing and Vela would provide the passes and Eduardo type fox-in-the-box finishes. We have a possible lethal attacking force building at the club.

Emmanuel Adebayor no.25

Pos.: CF

OVR: 87

Analysis:

Adebayor was the answer to Thierry Henry's departure. Scoring 30 goals for us last term made him the obvious successor to Henry in goals scored, but has a completely different playing style than our old French marksman. He likes to drift left like Henry, but when he does he inhibits his best attribute: his height and strength. Adebayor adds another dimension to our attacking play which never existed when Henry was here. He is a big tall target man, similar to Drogba, who can head in goals with the best of them. Nowadays Arsenal's fullbacks (and Eboue if he's playing) like to pump in crosses, which, when he is there, Adebayor more often than not gets a head to. Ade can also dribble fairly well, but often resorts to brute strength to get by players. In addition Ade is deceptively fast; his long legs move in great strides which creates the illusion that he is moving at fairly average pace when in reality he is moving at very fast speeds. However, for his antics over the summer surrounding a wage increase or possible transfer (which very likely could have been all made up by the English press) has lost him the support of some fans. I however hold no grudge against our Togolese striker. Even if his comments weren't made up (which I believe mostly were) he has regained my support when he agreed to stay with the club and put on the Arsenal shirt. Even if I didn't approve of him at all I would never boo the man. He's an Arsenal player, and no matter what he did in the past, every member of the team deserves our full support.

Nicklas Bendtner no.26

Pos.: CF

OVR: 81

Analysis:

Bendtner is best described as the "next Adebayor". He's a big tall fellow whose eye for goal is improving every month. He put in a series of impressive performances in pre-season when he partnered Carlos Vela in attack, including, not that it meant much, a four-goal showing against Burgenland during our 10-2 victory. Bendtner like any other young player needs time to grow and develop, but he certainly has the makings of a great striker in the future. If there is one negative thing to say about our young Dane, however, it is his at times hostile temperament. He reportedly has few if any actual friends in the dressing room, they are all merely colleagues. Also, his spat with Adebayor last January showed that he and Ade don't get along very well. All this being said, if Bendtner can put aside his differences with the rest of the team he could be a great Arsenal player of the future.

That concludes our Striker and squad review. It seems then that the Arsenal team is hardly lacking in attacking talent (which Arsenal team ever has been?), but the defensive frailties can sometimes let us down. Arsene Wenger reportedly made three attempts to sign a defensive midfielder during the summer, and he also reinforced the defense by adding a 31 year old experienced Frenchman into the team. Arsene knows that we need better defensive stability, and contrary to some reports, he is trying to fix the problem. Until January though (assuming Appiah doesn't sign) we'll just have to gut it out and try to play with the squad we've got. Keep the faith, Arsene knows, and for all we know, this could be our year...

With the squad review finished you can all look forward to not only the usual News Roundups every day or so, but also a look at the league, and my predictions as to final placings. Until then,

Fab 4

Key:

0-29: Sunday league player

30-49: Non league or youth academy level.

50-59: Plays at League One or Two level.

60-69: Growing prospect or ageing star close to retirement. Championship level.

70-79: Mid-to-Bottom table Premier League level. Good, solid, but not world-class.

80-89: Belongs at a big four club. Top quality player, very good.

90-99: Legendary. Only players who are, were, or could be one of the best players of all time in their position fall into this category. Examples include Pelé, Henry, C. Ronaldo, Baresi.