Ex-Arsenal striker Charlie Nicholas thinks Arsene Wenger could do worse than sign young Argentine forward Luciano Vietto from Spanish La Liga side Villarreal this summer.
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Rather than buy a big name player, Nicholas says Arsenal should stick with Olivier Giroud who – unlike his Sky Sports colleague Thierry Henry – he thinks is good enough to help Gunners win the Premier League.
“I don’t think Wenger particularly wants or needs a new striker – we can win the league with Olivier Giroud. But if we are to get one in, rather than go for a big name, I’d like to see us target Luciano Vietto, the young Argentinian lad at Villarreal,” he told Sky Sports.
“He’s an Arsenal type of player – he’s all about good movement, but his touch is good too and I think we could get him at a good price. He might need a bit of time to adapt, but he’s got so much potential.
Looking at the above showreel for the 21-year-old it’s not hard to see why Nicholas is so smitten with a player who has been dubbed the ‘new Sergio Aguero’ in some quarters.
The Argentine seems to offer a fluidity and speed that’s simply not available in Arsene Wenger’s current centre-forward options.
Olivier Giroud has been nothing short of exceptional at times this season but one could argue you know what you’re always going with him: incredible hold and link-up play, an aerial threat and someone who can add the finishing touch to Arsenal’s archetypal passing moves.
And perhaps, more negatively, a penchant to miss an abundance of chances, much to the chagrin and frustration of supporters – just see the tape of his fiasco against AS Monaco in the Champions League this season at the Emirates.
It’s all very one-paced with Giroud, not fitting what one would call the classic Arsene Wenger forward in the mould of a Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie or Nicolas Anelka.
You’ll never see Giroud running the length of the pitch with the ball or bamboozling his way through a defence with an array of touches, flicks and tricks.
In the Frenchman’s case, if he tried something so improvised and vivacious, he’d more than likely lose the ball entirely.
With a signing like Vietto, Arsenal could return to that famed history of rapid centre-forward play whilst further complimenting the strengths of the likes of Alexis, Danny Welbeck, Theo Walcott in the forward line.
A muscular, but technical option like Vietto would also mean Arsenal would not have to compromise on centre-forward play and the kind of impact Giroud provides, as has been the case when the aforementioned trio have tried asked deputise in the central role of the front three this season.
At his age, and relative inexperience at the top level, Vietto would likely not demand constant playing time and could be eased into a role in the side or used as an option from the bench.
The Daily Mail claimed earlier this year that Vietto could be available for a snip at £12m – though they linked Liverpool and Real Madrid to his signature.
In a tough summer market, and with goalscorers typically priced at a premium, Wenger could do far worse than move for Vietto when the window opens.
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