Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has told the Gunners to sign a striker “like Olivier Giroud”, while also claiming it is hard to find a player as complete as Alexandre Lacazette.
Mikel Arteta currently has a tough job on his hands in the forward department, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leaving the club in January meaning there are only two senior strikers left.
Making the task even more monumental for the Spaniard is the fact that both players, Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah, are out-of-contract at the end of the season.
As it currently stands, the pair look set to leave meaning the club are in desperate need of finding a new striker in the summer.
Despite the lack of business in the January window, Arteta was quick to defend the process, saying: “Edu and his team have done a great job. We are very clear we only want the best people and the best players at this club.
“When we are in a rush and the reasons to get a player on board are not the right ones, we didn’t do it.”
It suggests that the side has a plan for how they are going about recruiting in the best way possible, rather than signing anyone that is available.
Given the longer time frame and the off-season period, the summer presents a more able opportunity for Arsenal to take their time over a new forward.
Former defender Sagna believes that the Gunners should be looking at a player similar to ex-striker Giroud. He said, speaking to bettingexpert: “I would rather they [Arsenal] signed a pure no. 9. Someone who stayed in the box. A bit like what Olivier Giroud was.
"They need that focal point. If I had to take a player, I would take someone a bit like Giroud.
"But Mikel [Arteta] is in charge and I think he already knows what he is doing and he is doing it great and I'm happy for him.”
The Frenchman became a bit of a cult figure at the Emirates for a while, known for his box presence and physicality. Though that soon changed when he made the switch to rivals Chelsea.
Another dilemma on the hands of Arteta is how many forwards he may have to sign, especially with two leaving this summer.
That decision could be made easier if one were to sign a new contract, especially Lacazette, who has shown what he can offer this season in his link-up play.
Sagna believes it would be hard for the Gunners to find a player as complete as him again.
"It's hard to find a complete player like him [Alexandre Lacazette]," Sagna said.
"He likes to drop deeper and be part of the build-up, but he likes to run in front of the goal as well, so he is quite a complete striker. I see him more as a number ten to be honest. He has top quality finishing abilities.
“It’s a good time for Lacazette, because it seems like he has an open field for himself now to be working in and be confident and try to do his best, without having the pressure of another striker pushing him. He knows a lot relies on him. I know for a fact that he will give 100% for the club and will give 200% until the end of the season.
“Of course he reaches the end of his contract. It's a part of football. I did the same and it didn't stop me from being fully committed."
Whether Arsenal go down that route remains to be seen, though the names linked suggest a number of different profile strikers are being discussed.
It’s clear that transfers are set to be discussed, but the case of Lacazette’s contract can hardly be ignored either.
