Troubled, But Still Genius: The Striker Arsenal Should Buy

We need a striker! Wenger knows it, Arshavin knows it, Fabregas knows it...even Raymond Domenech (idiotic as he is) probably knows it. And I just happen to know of a striker that would absolutely be perfect for Arsenal, but unfortunately...Torres is already taken (and we already have enough injury prone players) so we have to look for another one.

Arshavin reckons we need a tall player who can hold on to the ball (solid reasoning Andrei). The benefit of good hold-up play was demonstrated (inadvertently) by Robert Huth in the build up to Ramsey's goal when the German played a sumptuous one-two with the Welsh wunderkind (maybe we should buy Huth and play him upfront).

There was another incident of a more "deliberate" nature in the first half, when Vermaelen held the ball up brilliantly and played in a teammate (i forget who) in for a good shooting chance.

Our Captain has also seen fit to weigh in with his oppinion on this debate, and he feels we need someone who gives us a more direct option and can get behind defenders. More solid reasoning, we all saw how Eduardo's lack of pace handicapped us against Chelsea. And we all saw how Arshavin's pace troubled Stoke and allowed our attack to have some much needed penetration. 

And the man whose opinion actually counts (Mr. Wenger of course) says he wants someone world-class, who is yet to play in the champions league. Some more solid reasoning, when buying a player it is always a nice bonus if he can actually play.

You don't want to go the Benitez route and find out the "new Van Nistelrooy" you bought is actually more of a hard-working winger than a stone-cold, fox-in-the-box. And after buying Arshavin next year, we know how much it sucks to buy a brilliant player and then not be able to play him in a tournament you really want to win.

So we have our recipe for the perfect striker to solve our mini-crisis in attack. Someone tall, with good hold-up play, enough pace to get behind defenders, hasn't played in champions league and is world-class. Hmm...who could that possibly be?

How about a three-time Serie A winner who also won the 2005 Confed Cup with Brazil (and may I add he won the golden boot and golden shoe in that competition). I don't know about you, but that screams word-class to me.

This man also hasn't played in the champions league this season because he was too busy winning the Brazil Serie A's best striker, top-scorer, and best player awards. He is 6 ft 3, powerful, has a thunderous left-foot shot, and is at least quicker than Eduardo is. Fellow Gooners, that man is Adriano!

I see your heads drop, you're all like; "come on, the guy is a nut-job, he is so unstable!". True as that may be, you cannot dispute the fact that he is a genuinely word-class striker who has all the attributes we crave, and he has returned to something resembling his best form since his return to Brazil with Flamengo.

If anyone can get the best out of the Brazilian, then it is certainly Wenger. And Adriano at his best would be a beast who would absolutely frighten the daylights out of opposition defenders and goalkeepers alike (we would finally have our Drogba equivalent). Can you imagine the number of chances he would convert with that left foot of his, he doesn't even have to be in the box, just pass him the ball and then BANG!

I know this move is extremely unlikely though because of his disciplinary record, but if I had my jollies, I would definetly buy him in January. What do you think? Would Adriano be a good buy for Arsenal?