With the January transfer window now open, ’tis the season for Arsenal to be linked with a whole host of top-class strikers.
But the Gunners arguably already have a striker of such standing.
Olivier Giroud has scored four goals and provided two assists in his last four matches.
Admittedly, those games – versus West Brom, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Preston – have not been against elite opposition.
However, Giroud’s record in the Champions League backs up the belief that he is the real deal.
In the past two and a half seasons, Giroud has scored eight goals in 13 UCL appearances, four of which were as a sub.
To put that into perspective, the mighty Karim Benzema of Real Madrid has only scored seven goals in his last 13 Champions League matches – and three of those came at home to Malmo in an 8-0 farce.
My point is that Giroud is a top-class striker in his own right, so Gunners fans should be excited to hear that the 30-year-old Frenchman is close to signing a new Arsenal deal.
He told French TV, as reported and translated by Sky Sports: “We’re on the verge of reaching an agreement for an extension
“It’s also a sign of confidence and I want to continue my adventure here in this Arsenal family, and I feel very good here.
“When I spoke with the manager, he always kept telling me that I’m an important player. I know what I’m capable of and it’s just a case of being patient, working hard in training and waiting for your hour to come.”
Giroud joined Arsenal back in June 2012, after winning the Ligue 1 title with Montpellier.
He was won two FA Cups with the Gunners.