Arsenal FC: Could Carlos Vela Be the Fox in the Box That Arsenal Need?

Among the many Arsenal transfer needs listed by supporters is the need to acquire a "poacher" to act as a Javier Hernandez or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer-type player who has the single-minded approach of scoring goals and hanging on defenders for the opportunity to do so. Names that have been suggested, whether realistically or not, have been Gervinho of Lille, Jermain Defoe of Spurs and the pricey, but well-named, Radamel Falcao of FC Porto.

While all of these players are definitely of the highest quality, many fail to realize that Arsenal already possess an efficient and quality goal scorer, albeit a severely neglected one, in the immensely skilled Carlos Vela.

When one hears the transfer rumors that link Arsenal with Gervinho, one cannot help but see the same mold of player in Vela. Gervinho can play on either wing, in a more central position, possesses speed, trickery, flair and a good finish. However, one only needs to dip into one's memory or perform a quick search on YouTube to observe the skill and superb finishing of Vela, and Wenger has used him on the left wing from time to time, with a more archetypal lone striker in the middle.

Moreover, Vela has more Premiership experience, which is invaluable when juxtaposing the physical type of play against better sides in the Prem with the smaller, less physical style of play in Ligue 1, a less prestigious and well-regarded league than that which our beloved Arsenal hope to win.

Regarding Defoe and Falcao, the main argument against signing ether of them is simply their respective prices. Granted, Defoe has shown some measure of consistency with Spurs, and has shown quality for them, but at 28, has only a few top-quality years left in him because of the role that speed plays in his game and thus, would not justify the inflated fee that Arsenal would have to pay for him because Spurs would be selling him to an arch-rival.

Vela, at the age of 22, has several great years left in him, has not yet hit his prime and has shown the same affinity for scoring and using pace to do so.

Then, there is Falcao. Falcao is, I must admit, a better all-around striker than Vela, as his astounding goal-scoring record of 16 goals on 17 shots in 22 Portuguese League games shows. With a release clause of £26 million, however, there is not a chance in the world that Arsene would smash his transfer record by £10 million on even a player of Falcao's quality, especially since he is likely to return to his now-former manager Andre Villas-Boas at Chelsea. Most Arsenal fans would agree that the primary use of our transfer money should be on a tall, physical defender such as Per Mertesacker, Gary Cahill or Christopher Smaba rather than a player who spends his time at the other end of the pitch.

Despite being overlooked by Arsene Wenger after a promising start to the season, Carlos Vela can still be the poacher and the single-minded goalscorer that Arsenal so desperately need. He possesses the versatility and trickery of Gervinho, the pace and finishing of Defoe and will not break the bank like Falcao. Deployed in our 4-2-3-1 formation, he could transition in and out of the center with van Persie if an attack so necessitated, or could be used in a pairing with the aforementioned Dutchman in a 4-4-2. In short, we would have the sort of tactical flexibility that would allow us to adapt our squad to different teams, as Sir Alex Ferguson does with his Manchester United team, using this tactic frequently to stymie and confuse Arsenal.

Eschewing the pricey striker signing could actually benefit Arsenal this summer, as it would allow for more spending on desperately needed defenders and other quality reinforcements, whilst not depriving the team of goals.

When Arsenal supporters are being treated to the emergence of our own Chicharito next season, no one will bemoan not signing yet another player from Ligue 1, a player for our most hated rivals whose time as a top-quality player is running out or a pricey striker whose signing lets in as many goals as he scores because of the lack of defensive reinforcements brought in.