"Our second least effective first-team starter is of course Giroud, however I have a strong suspicion he will make a step up this season. If he adds just 7-8 more goals to his tally, which is entirely possible, then I think most of us would be comfortable with not strengthening that position"

Giroud could have a strong season but it does not take a genius to realise that he is not the type of player to elevate us to the next level.

If we want to challenge for the league again or be a force in Europe than we need a striker who can really make the difference

I have not understood why people thing Podolski is not a very good player. His 1st season in the premiership and he scores 16 goals. 11 in the league and 4 out of 6 matches in CL. He also did 11 assists.

Lets not even debunk his German stats.

The guy is a great player and I am happy we have him. Lets not forget he never did 90 min either (for some reason).

Don't knock the guy. Next season he will be one of the best players in the League...

Pod is a quality player.

I also find it baffling out some fans don't seem to rate him.

I think some look at how the team plays.

We are an attacking team so you expect players to score, but can't help but think that some of our players are just too limited to make a difference against stronger teams.

We finished 4th, so in order to take us a higher and win a trophy don't you think we need better players instead of thinking the current crop will just do better.

I can't see what Giroud can improve on, finishing might be better but he isn't going to open up space for a clearer shot because he lacks pace and skill, thus his goal scoring will be limited and very dependent on his team mates.

The reason why Podolski may be our weakest player is his fitness. Rarely lasted more than 70 minutes, didn't help the LB as much as he should, and went missing from games too often.

Hopefully it was just adjustments, but at times it did feel as if we were carrying a player.

English~Players~Never~Fall~Twice (U4080)
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We have quality players but what we lack is quality backup's. Giroud 1st season was good. Next season he will get better. But we have no real back up or plan B.

With a extra striker it opens up our attacking options. We can then play 4-4-2 as well as 4-5-1.

We need cover and quality signings also improve current signings.

We have cover on the flanks but we need a striker, not to replace Giroud, but to partner him or for both the fight for their position.

I'm not saying Poldi's not very good... but that who is weaker in our starting XI than him for their position?

The defensive side of our team (GK, defenders and holding midfield) is pretty sound IMO given how we performed towards the end of last season.

So that leaves the 5 remaining attacking players... Cazorla, Wilshere/Rosicky, Walcott, Giroud and Podolski...

Out of those 5 positions, our weakest is LW occupied by Poldi and arguably ST occupied by Giroud...

So one of the best ways to strengthen our team would be to buy a creative LW (or another creative AM and move Cazorla to the left)

If you disagree that Poldi is our weak link, which players are worse for their position in our team than him?

If you disagree that Poldi is our weak link, which players are worse for their position in our team than him?
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Why does any one individual have to be a weak link? The worst player in an XI is not necessarily a weak link.

Ok DJ I see what you mean, but generally if you are to improve something that is made of many factors, the best approach is to strengthen the weakest cog so to speak. That would have the overall biggest improvement on the entire unit.

Poldi is a good player but if we are to make our first team stronger we have to take out the weakest and replace with strongest

name your 1st 11 and I bet someone will say that player should not be in the 1st XI this player should.

Do you pick Sagna or Jenkinson ? Gibbs or Monreal ?

Arteta or Ramsey ?

Some may even argue that we should have OX instead of Walcott (I have seen this mentioned on 606).

Any 1st team will have a weak link.

So coming at it from a top-down perspective, our defence is stronger than our attack so we need to strengthen our attack as a priority:

-------------Giroud-------------
---Poldi---------------Theo---
--------Caz-----Wils/Rosi----

If we were to strengthen our first team, the best improvement to make would be to drop Poldi to the bench and strengthen the left wing, or move Cazorla there and bring a quality player to replace him in the middle

OP is right in my opinion. Suprised so many of you want Podolski playing after the season he had. Great stats but I feel someone else could offer more. Think Pod would be a great sub to have, he finishes anything.

absolutely we should have a strong/deep squad, but try telling that to dear leader!

We need a fit Rosicky or a player of his type as AM and Caz on the left.
We played some good football when Rosicky returned to fitness late in last season.

Completely disagree. Podoski played less, out of position and was rumoured to be carrying an injury for most or all of last season which has now been operated on. Even with his limited time on the pitch he had the same number of league goals as Giroud. Wenger also said Pod is the best finisher at the club.

Personally I'd like to see Pod get his chance at CF if he has regained fitness. I think he would outscore Giroud and get more assists for Theo, Santi and Ox or whoever on the left.

Personally I'd like to see Pod get his chance at CF if he has regained fitness. I think he would outscore Giroud and get more assists for Theo, Santi and Ox or whoever on the left.

No I dont want to see Poldi to play CF again....Its just not his position and we could see that when he played there. Its good for one week when our CF is banned or injured but not for a long time. Its not working.

GT is correct, Pods is not a long term option as a CF

His natural position is more the traditional no 10 role, which is why I made the point off saying about him making assists for Theo, Cazorla and left wing (Ox). Wenger said he is the best finisher at the club.

I would also like to point out that people have been keen to give Giroud a run of games to get used to playing in the PL but don't seem to be prepared to give another, better, player the same chance.

The problem I have with Giroud is that he only seems to score when someone sets up the perfect ball for him and hes too slow. Speed wise hes on a par with Bergkamp, but that's where the comparison stops. DB was a far better player as Im sure we all know whereas Giroud is just not the quality we need if we are to challenge for trophies imo.

The problem I have with Giroud is that he only seems to score when someone sets up the perfect ball for him and hes too slow. Speed wise hes on a par with Bergkamp, but that's where the comparison stops. DB was a far better player as Im sure we all know whereas Giroud is just not the quality we need if we are to challenge for trophies imo.

Everyone knows that he is not on the same level to RVP, Bergkamp and others and were at times to wasteful where OG really has to improve. But to say he got enough service is simply wrong.

When teams came to the Emirates and defend well we never find him. Crosses , passes not enough and accurate. Even Poldi failed in the games where he played upfront. That has nothing to do with him but the way we play from midfield to our strikers. Simply not good enough.