Arsenal FC: What Should Be Done About Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela?

It's been one wild ride for Arsenal this season, particularly of late.

And considering that the Gunners closed out the 2010-11 season by taking only six of a possible final 21 points—including losses to Bolton, Stoke City and Aston Villa—that's saying something.

But the 3-3 draw to Norwich City on Saturday, the latest sputter in what has become a precarious finish to the current season (again), highlighted the dearth of adequate attacking options within this current Arsenal side (again).

Although Yossi Benayoun opened the scoring with an absolutely sumptuous goal, it merely papered the cracks over what has become a quite troubling over-reliance on Robin van Persie to deliver. And with the Israeli winger only on loan for the season, that source of production may not even be around in 2012-13.

Against Norwich, we were treated to the defensive mishaps and one-track tune on offense that has become the soundtrack to the season, set on "Repeat."

In those final minutes, Arsenal once again relied the angelic van Persie to rescue them from the jaws of defeat.

The Dutchman nearly provided the heroics (again), wrapping up a brace within eight minutes (72' and 80') to put Arsenal up 3-2.

He found himself on the end of most of the Gunners' chances in the final 10 minutes, during which Norwich equalized through Steve Morison (85'). But he could not convert his hat trick.

While he should have done better on at least two of those final chances, it's very difficult to get angry at a player for only scoring two goals.

Simply put, van Persie needs help.

Arsenal's reliance on van Persie has become an endless talking point this season, but the fact that the Dutchman has three of Arsenal's last four goals (he scored against Stoke as well in the 1-1 draw last Saturday) only legitimizes the point. It's too common a theme, that of the No. 10 always having to come through in the clutch.

The arrival of German international Lukas Podolski should help next season (it still remains to be seen where he will play in Wenger's 4-2-3-1), but the list of reinforcements cannot end there.

Van Persie has 30 league goals this season. The next two Gunners on the scoring list are Theo Walcott (eight) and Mikel Arteta (six), both of whom are injured. Then comes Thomas Vermaelen, a central defender, tied with Arteta with six.

That's not the type of offensive firepower one would expect to see from a side who have made a name for themselves through enterprising attacking play throughout the years. They are nicknamed, after all, the "Gunners."

Should van Persie ever succumb to serious injury again (and given his history in that department, it's not an unfounded fear), where would the goals come from?

With this season as a reference point, Arsenal's goal-scoring output—their 71 goals are currently third-best—might well dry up.

Even with Podolski on board, it's not a given that Arsenal could survive a season without their talismanic captain.

Thankfully, Arsene Wenger still has some options available to him without delving into the transfer window once more—something he's never approached with relish. There are additional goals to be found, after all.

No, I'm not talking about Marouane Chamakh and Park Chu-Young, neither of whom figure to factor into Wenger's long-term plans for the club. (They have appeared in just 12 league games between them this season, and Wenger has hinted that he will look to offload both this summer.)

Enter Nicklas Bendtner (24 years old) and Carlos Vela (23 years old), then, both of whom are out on loan this season with Sunderland and Real Sociedad, respectively.

Both players have enjoyed consistent first-team football (something rarely seen between them during their Arsenal careers), and have finally begun to make good on the considerable potential they had merely hinted at while at the Emirates.

Bendtner, who is a consistent starter for Denmark (as is Vela for Mexico), has tallied eight goals and five assists in league for the Black Cats this season. His performance has not gone unnoticed among his teammates—particularly former Gunner Sebastian Larsson, who praised the lanky Dane's play.

Vela, never one to shortchange the sensational while on the pitch (he always seemed to get a chipped attempt in during his appearances with the Gunners), has outdone his teammate in terms of statistical production, notching 12 goals with seven assists.

While they never seemed to gain Wenger's full trust at Arsenal, both certainly had their moments.

For Bendtner, who could miss chances with the best of them, it was a mix of the crucial goals (a vital winner against Wolves in 2010) along with the aesthetically spectacular (that goal against Ipswich Town in 2011).

For Vela, who was perhaps the most frustrating of any Arsenal player in recent seasons, it was a hat trick in the Carling Cup in 2008 that seemed to signal him as one to watch for the future.

Yet neither the Dane nor the Mexican could ever make the leap from bit-part player to consistent first-team performer, no matter how confident they felt in their chances at achieving that feat.

The problem now has become that, given their success during their loan spells, both players appear ready to pursue long-term deals with the intent of staying at their current clubs. The allure of first-team football may just be too hard to resist.

Bendtner, who once looked all but certain to be gone after this season, has toned down his vitriolic rhetoric from September, when he said "I will never play for Arsenal again."

Now it's "I am not certain I will be [at Sunderland next season]." Make of that what you will.

Wenger, who has endured his fair share of want-away players in recent years (see: Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure...), with every one of them leaving the club, this situation becomes a tad delicate.

Will the manager risk drawing the ire of either player by bringing them back against their wishes to Arsenal next season so that he has adequate cover in attack should van Persie get injured?

One gets the feeling that Bendtner might come kicking and screaming and, well, dragging his feet after a season in which his considerable confidence reserves have finally been (somewhat) justified.

Given Wenger's historic reticence to binge in the transfer market, and his previous statement that he will look to shop Chamakh and Park mean that he is planning to bring one or both of his current loanees back to London next season?

Perhaps. Arsenal could definitely use the cover in attack.

Would it be fair to either of those players, who have thrived in environments where they have enjoyed consistent first-team football, to make them part-time players once more?

Perhaps not. Never one to be ruled by his feelings, Wenger will likely make the decision he deems to be in the best interests of the club.

And with a Premier League title the goal in 2012-13, he may just feel that Bendtner or Vela would be key pieces to that potential puzzle, no matter their feelings on the subject.

There is another potential option. Wenger could sell one or both, and use the money earned from those deals to snap up one of the more talented attacking options set to be on the market this summer.

Any number could fit the bill for Arsenal, but I am partial to Montpellier's Olivier Giroud, who has seen his superb form this season for the current Ligue 1 co-leaders (they have a game in hand on PSG) rocket him into the international discussion.

His 21 goals for Montpellier are nothing to sneeze about—he has a penchant for coming up big in the most important games—and he possesses the sort of technical bravado that is such sweet music to Wenger's ears.

Many a fan has said in recent weeks that Arsenal need proven campaigners with experience in title chases. Giroud, at 25, is rapidly becoming that type of player.

He is only in his second season of top-flight football, but you wouldn't know it given how good he's been this season.

It may well be high time to cycle out some of the "old guard" at Arsenal, and filter in the new.