Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Signing Olivier Giroud Still Leaves Room for RVP

There's been a lot of unrest among Arsenal fans upon hearing the Gunners may sign France striker Olivier Giroud. Fears have cropped up that it signifies the end of Robin van Persie's stay at Emirates.

According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal is "close" to agreeing on a deal with Giroud.

But these fears may be premature, given that signing Giroud doesn't necessarily push van Persie out the door.

Giroud, who scored 25 goals for Montpellier last season as the the side won the league title, may simply be a complement to van Persie instead. 

There is no reason why you can't have three left-footed strikers in soccer (van Persie, Giroud and newly-acquired Lukasz Podolski). If you can have three right-footed strikers, you can have three left-footed strikers. All you have to do is change the formation so that all three fit together, or have one come off the bench as a spark plug, as JustArsenal.com notes.

Van Persie's move isn't a foregone conclusion. He simply wants the Gunners to be active acquiring new players before next season so they have a legitimate shot at the Premier League title moving forward. This isn't a Samir Nasri-Cesc Fabregas situation. 

In that sense, Arsenal is already beginning to appease van Persie's wishes. Giroud is a solid player who should instantly help the Gunners in their quest for the title. And, honestly, the gap isn't too wide. Arsenal placed third in the league this season.

The signing of Giroud may actually be a blessing, because it gives Arsenal a better chance of keeping RVP.