Why Wenger wants Odemwingie, Doyle & Rodallega

There are always going to be murmurs of transfers surrounding the big clubs, and there are quite a few which you can brush off as rubbish. When Arsenal’s interest in West Brom’s Odemwingie was announced by the press, for example, Arsenal fans may have laughed it off as a bad joke. However, those rumours started to grow, and the interest from Arsenal became apparently real, leaving some, scratching their heads in confusion.

However, it seems he Arsenal manager is going for a certain “type” of striker. A few days ago, Kevin Doyle’s name was mentioned quite a few times in connection with Arsenal. The Wolves striker doesn’t exactly spring to mind when thinking of a player who would pair up with Robin van Persie, but he would be a useful commodity to have in reserve.

With the Doyle rumours swept under the carpet due to Mick McCarthy’s announced desire for Doyle to stay put at Wolves, there was suddenly room for another striker to be linked. This time it’s Wigan’s Hugo Rodallega. Nine goals and an assist for the relegation battlers last season doesn’t grab your eyes attention, but the Colombian does a neat job up front – always posing a danger – even for the bigger teams, in fact he’s no stranger to seeing a shot from his boot hit the back of an Arsenal guarded net. Rodallega apparently said:

“Arsenal are interested in me and this is a club I have always liked. There are many teams interested, it’s true. Villarreal, Sevilla, Arsenal also have some interest, Everton, too.”

“There is a lot of speculation but my future at this moment is at Wigan. I have signed for one more year in Wigan, but if the club decides on my sale that is no problem if the subject is positive for all parties.”

So what are the immediate similarities between the three linked strikers? Well, first of all, they all adopt the same style. They are hard workers who will knick a goal when needed – not prolific – although in Odemwingie’s case, he could be, but certainly capable of grabbing around 10 goals in a Premier League season. 10 goals is better than what Wenger had last season from any of his strikers apart from van Persie, who notched an impressive 18, but Bendtner and Chamakh trail miserably behind.

Then there is the price of the three. A striker at the age of around 25-29, who is playing for a side who regularly fight hard for their Premier League status near the depths of the League, and who have no real spending power themselves, will not command a huge transfer fee. Indeed, pair that with Wenger’s reluctance to spend large amounts for any sort of player, and it’s a perfect match.

Then there is there fitness. Arsenal have been the victim of rather large slices of bad luck in terms of injuries recently, while in contrast, the three linked players have not. Last season, Odemwingie played 32 games, Doyle played 26, and Rodallega made 36 appearances. This is exactly what Wenger needs some of in his side – fitness, and durability. A player who can physically match the demands of a long season under pressure – and these players have been under huge pressure at the bottom of the League.

While none of the three players would be regular starters now that Arsenal have signed Lille’s Gervinho, their signings would be a shrewd move by Wenger – a move which would see Arsenal have strength in depth. But not depth like the Chamakh or Bendtner, who would come on to make very little impact at all, but a form of depth that would come on and have the experience and know-how in the Premier League to actually make a difference and add the energy while chipping in a goal or an assist to lift the team.

So don’t scoff at the rumours, but rather be encouraged that Wenger is actually alive and moving in the market, and looking for, although not at a Benzema, (which would be expensive and unrealistic), a player more reliable than what Arsenal have already in Bendtner and Chamakh.

Submitted by DBSFootball