Arsenal Transfer News: Giroud and Podolski Will Soften the Blow of a RVP Exit

The biggest transfer news of the day has been reports that Arsenal are close to completing a £12 million deal that will bring Montpellier and France striker Olivier Giroud to the North London club.

Giroud's potential arrival along with the signing of Lukas Podolski earlier this year could be signs of the club preparing for the loss of star man Robin Van Persie. The Dutchman's exit from the club this summer has been rumoured for some time and his future still remains uncertain.

While BBC Sport are reporting that Giroud has been signed with the intention of a playing alongside Van Persie and Podolski, with Van Persie's contract up next summer, a big offer may be enough to pry him away from The Emirates.

Manchester City have dominated the race to sign Van Persie, but recent reports have suggested that Italian giants Juventus may also be in the running for the Dutchman's signature.

While the Dutchman's influence on the Gunners is virtually irreplaceable, in Giroud and Podolski, Arsene Wenger may have the beginnings of an extremely productive pairing up front.

If Van Persie does leave, Arsenal will face the arduous task of replacing the 36 goals that Robin scored last season. The duo of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud could be the perfect way of doing just that.

Playing for Koln last season, German international Podolski was in lethal form, scoring 18 goals in 29 matches and supplying seven assists. The 27-year-old possesses great speed and has a lethal left foot.

Add to that the unselfish play of Giroud, who supplied Montpellier with 21 goals in 36 league games with an added nine assists, and you have the makings of the perfect strike pairing.

The Frenchman is excellent in the air, which should work well with the play of Podolski. The German likes to peel off onto the left-hand side and whip in crosses from the byline. With a big man like the 6' 3" Giroud waiting in the middle, this could mean a lot of goals for Arsenal.

There is clearly no one player who could come in and replace the influence that Robin Van Persie has at Arsenal. However, when the fees of Podolski and Giroud are combined, Arsenal have spent less than £25 million. The fee for Van Persie alone will surely be more than this, so once again Wenger has been very shrewd financially.

If Arsenal do have to face their best player leaving the team, then Arsene Wenger may have done an excellent job in ensuring that the effects are noticed as little as possible.