Giroud again proves he is indispensable as Wenger bemoans lack of quality strikers... so who could Arsenal buy in January?

Two more goals for Olivier Giroud, three more points for Arsenal, four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League - perhaps Arsene Wenger had a point when he suggested this week that his squad could win the title without the addition of another striker in the January transfer window.

In August, few people outside London Colney considered Arsenal to have a squad comparable to those at Stamford Bridge, Eastlands and Old Trafford.



Indeed, some questioned whether the Emirates remained home to the most competent set of players in North London, such was the fascination that surrounded Tottenham’s summer regeneration.

Loving it: Olivier Giroud struck twice to keep Arsenal flying high at the top of the table

Yet such conclusions have proved misplaced. Wojciech Szczesny has refined his game, maturing into an imposing presence between the sticks. Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny are established as the finest defensive pairing in the division, Mesut Ozil has elevated the performances of the playmakers around him and Aaron Ramsey has been the most impressive player in English football during the opening months of this campaign.

But it is perhaps the improvement of Olivier Giroud, selfless and indefatigable in his role as the lone frontrunner, that has provided the platform for this Arsenal renaissance.

Giroud is the muscular and combative foil for the elaborate sorcerers that roam behind him. It his intelligent running that offers Arsenal a constant outlet, his brawny chest that collects and retains possession. He is, quite simply, indispensable to to Wenger’s team, occupying defenders and pulling opponents out of position.



Strong showing: Arsene Wenger is so far justified in his belief that Giroud is enough firepower for the Gunners Answering the call: Giroud scored twice against Southampton to help the Gunners take all three points

The Arsenal manager admits as much, explaining: ‘Olivier is completely different to the rest of the team. He gives us so much with his physical presence. He has a big frame and he uses his upper body well. His link play has improved tremendously.’

Such a reliance explains the sudden hush that descended over the Emirates Stadium when Giroud clutched his groin, his face grimacing, just three minutes into Saturday afternoon’s victory over Southampton.

It proved a false alarm and Giroud recovered to score two and nudge his goal tally into double figures. But the immediate concern on the terraces demonstrated that the supporters understand the damage that any extended absence for Giroud could inflict upon Arsenal’s title ambitions.

Wenger cites the return of Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski as possible alternatives but both players would endure, rather than enjoy, the responsibility as the target man.

Walcott and Podolski would admit to playing their best football supporting from the flanks, the two a touch lightweight to compete as the solitary forward player. Nicklas Bendtner is now a cast-off, not up to the task.



Miles behind: Nicklas Bendtner (left) is a cast-off at Arsenal, while Giroud (right) is thriving

The result is a dangerous dependency on Giroud. He has already started twenty-one games this season for club and country. Over the next five weeks, Arsenal will play ten games. Giroud, fitness providing, will start the majority of these. There is likely to be little respite over the hectic Christmas period.

Arsenal are not ignorant to the issue. They have already lightened Giroud’s training to avoid burnout and fatigue.

The ploy could work. They could get lucky. Giroud could avoid all niggles and ailments through to the end of a gruelling campaign and play in almost sixty matches, mostly as a lone striker.

But that’s a huge ask. And with a genuine possibility of securing the Premier League title, why would Wenger take the risk?

On Saturday evening at his post-match press conference, the Arsenal manager raised an intriguing debate, as he diagnosed a continent-wide malaise in the forward position.

Europe, Wenger argues, is no longer producing the elite strikers.

Far away lands: Luis Suarez, from Uruguay, is one of many top strikers who come from out of Europe

‘Yes, Europe still produces fantastic football players but if you look closely, we do not produce top strikers anymore. Very few’, Wenger said, ‘All the big strikers now come from South America. During the summer, Falcao went to Monaco, Cavani went to PSG, everybody wanted to sign Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain went to Napoli for big money.

‘That’s an area where in Europe it is difficult to find great strikers. Even in Germany, where I can remember so many great strikers from years gone by, they are producing many exceptional players but not young strikers. Is that a consequence of the way we coach? Of modern life? I do not know.’

Wenger may have identified a poignant issue. Certainly, it is a theory echoed by former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler, who told Sportsmail: ‘Now, there is the No 9 and the No 10. The 10 plays behind the nine so they are never really playing as a genuine partnership. That might have hindered the number of forwards coming through.

‘You can only play the one so youngsters may be thinking of playing somewhere else because there is just the one striking position up for grabs. That may have something to do with it. I have played in the lone striker role and my game was not really suited to that. If I were playing now, I would try to play in the No 10 position.’

Hear me roar: Romelu Lukaku is an example of a European striker in fine fettle at the moment

But despite the changing systems, there are powerful, goalscoring forwards to be found in Europe. Romelu Lukaku is one, although he would not be attainable until the summer. Christian Benteke is another and he may be more easily swayed towards the Emirates.

Karim Benzema, Fernando Llorente, Javier Hernandez , Salomon Kalou and Edin Dzeko are others to have been touted as possible targets.