Olivier Giroud Done: Now for M'Vila Before We Start Off-loading

Olivier Giroud: Arsenal's latest acquisition

This close season looks like Arsenal are not fooling around anymore. Pre-season hasn't even started yet, and we have already bought 2 strikers in Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski, albeit they are both left footed strikers. I suspect Arsenal are tying to create a shortage of left-footed strikers in the European market... talk of a wonderful, self-sustaining business model...

Being hailed as the best thing since sliced bread, Giroud is tipped to take the Premier League by storm next season. His career path is being likened to that of Didier Drogba by some. For me, we just need a decent striker. period. A striker who will tap into goal a tap in. A striker who will take a shot when necessary. A striker who will head a ball from a corner kick. A striker who will create havoc with his positional play and link up play with others in the team. From what I have read, I think Giroud ticks all those boxes... but then so did Chamakh...

The failure of Chamakh and Park to impress last season has left many an Arsenal fan with skepticism when it comes to strikers from the French League 1. But, it is said that no risk=no reward. We might just have got ourselves a very good striker here so lets just be happy to have a new signing, which is what we have been crying for all season long.

Where does that leave Van Persie I hear you ask. Well, for me, Van Persie is leaving the club this summer. The signs are too similar with previous captains' departures from Arsenal in recent seasons. How we keep handing our captains arm-band to guys who are on their way I don't understand. The days of true employee loyalty are over. An employee's loyalty is only as long as your money is good enough for him...

Not saying that Van Persie is going to leave for money, but for me, any players who takes the easy way out to success by joining a team of expensively assembled mercenaries is probably worth selling. If Van Persie should decide to join Citeh so as to win trophies, then let him go.

The club really needs to sort out his contract ASAP or let him go. I think we are the only club that sells it's captains like pie on matchday. Spur's captain for years has been Ledley King; a man whose knees are so weak that even custard is firmer. He does not even play that many games for them because of said knees but still he is their club captain. Why? because he is loyal to the club and a good leader on and off the pitch. Let us not forget there is a certain Theo Walcott whose contract is up...

Arsenal needs to appoint a club captain who is a real Arsenal man. A player who trully loves the club not because he is the star player, but because he loves this unique club of ours. A player who feels that the club is his and he is the club. A player who does not want to hold the club at ransom at the end of his contract. A player who can, without much BS, anounce his commitment or otherwise to the club at the first instance of asking. For me, any player who does not commit to the club, wanting first to see what the club will do in the market, is undermining the club. I want a player who wants to be the different, not part of the group!

But where does a club find such a player these days...

So, welcome Olivier Giroud. Now let's get M'vila...

Van Persie's Future To Be Finalised Soon

Following Germany's 2-1 beating of the Netherlands, Robin Van Persie's future will be announced soon as the Netherlands are effectively out of the Euro 2012 competition.

Van Persie, who did not want to discuss or announce anything on his future, on account of his involvement at Euro 2012 will surely have no further excuse once Holland are eliminated after their last group game against Portugal.

Holland will need to beat Portugal by more than 2 goals and hope Denmark lose against Germany. Both are very tricky scenarios for Holland indeed.

The rumoured impending signing of Olivier Giroud by Arsenal from Montpellier for £13M for me tells me that's the end to Robin Van Persie's time at Arsenal. In fact, the fact that the club met with Van Persie at the end of the season, discussed and agreed not to announce the outcome of said discussions says a lot. It's negative news for Arsenal fans.

I think Robin Van Persie has already notified the club that he is leaving and they are just waiting to sign his replacement/s before the official confirmation is published on the club's official website.

For me the sooner they do so the better. I will be sad to see Van Persie go. I know he loves the club and all that, but hey, it's just a job. I too love my current employment, but given the chance to earn twice what I currently earn? Fuck my current employers! I don't want us to go through what happened last year with Fabregas and Nasri. That really undermined the club and set the tone for the beginning of our season.

I think that if we sign Olivier Giroud, that will be the end of our summer spending on strikers. We have already signed Lucas Podolski and with Joel Campbell coming back from his loan spell, I don't expect any further signings in the striking positions. Remember we still have Chamakh, Park, Bendtner and Vela.... Yeah yeah, I know...

I would then expect us to sign a midfielder, especially Yann M'vila. Of course much depends also on what happens with Alex Song, Theo Walcott, Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky.

Watch this space.