It's not just the amount of goals anyway, it's how and when you score them. Even with conceding 6 to City we have the statistically best defence in the league so far. On the other hand we've struggled to create all season, while sitting on arguably the most creative midfield in the country. It's easy to see where it breaks down for us. The lack of runners in the team is abhorrent. The problem is bigger than Giroud and just signing a striker in that sense.

We all loved Ramsey's ridiculous form when he played for two people but he also masked how static the team was. He took the supporting runs and offered angles everywhere because no one else did. No wonder Özil and him worked so well together: the best playmaker in the world for the last couple of years strikes up a partnership with the only Arsenal player who moves vertically. Colour me surprised. On top of that Ramsey was impossibly clinical in front of goal. That was obviously not going to last for 38 games. And now he's gone for who knows how long. And Walcott's gone.

Has our goalscoring really suffered since Ramsey got injured? I've not checked the stats but it seems we score roughly the same per game.

Walcott's absence is the biggest issue for the rest of the season and it's what he brings to the table that should be replaced, today.

y va marquer wrote:

No I'm questioning the received opinion that not having a better striker than Giroud is the only thing that stands between us and a PL trophy.
Sorry if that drives you into some kind of fury

Okay. Because I said just that. That it was obvious that we have a better chance with a better striker. And you said "Is it?" So it's not too far-fetched for me to assume that you questioned it?

Also, even though I haven't used a smiley face, I can assure you that I have not been driven into any kind of fury.

This does seem like a rather semantic, nit-picky sort of argument.

It's gotten to that now, but when I wrote that first post, it didn't have any deeper meaning than that. It meant exactly what I wrote.

ludovic van zis wrote:

Has our goalscoring really suffered since Ramsey got injured? I've not checked the stats but it seems we score roughly the same per game.

Again without checking the stats I'd say we're at least down a goal a game. We're so much less fluid than we were earlier in the season. Not sure if the Ramsey injury is causation or simply correlation though. Its not like Jack has been failing to produce.

Thread is cursed. Links started appearing of transfers falling apart soon as it came up and been that way

Yes, we certainly won't sign anyone now, at all.

Absolutely. And certainly not a forward. Definitely not.

I am so sure we'll not, I'd figuratively eat my hat.

Klaus wrote:

...

We all loved Ramsey's ridiculous form when he played for two people but he also masked how static the team was. He took the supporting runs and offered angles everywhere because no one else did. No wonder Özil and him worked so well together: the best playmaker in the world for the last couple of years strikes up a partnership with the only Arsenal player who moves vertically...

!!!
It natural for Theo, Ramsey and to a lesser extent Podolski but i would like to see all our midfielders making more of those runs as soon as they see Ozil or Cazorla with good possession. Even Jack, who hardly ever used to score, is now getting amongst the goals by making those runs.

We should hi-jack Mitroglou while he's having his medical for Fulham.

http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/01/30/agent-of-mirko-vucinic-explains-arsenal-snub/?

Afobe loan extension with Sheffield Wednesday

Not a lot about than in the media though Mr X mentioned it a day or so back I think.

This morning I think maybe just maybe Wenger may have a little bit good surprise for us today.
Maybe.

Volante wrote:

We should hi-jack Mitroglou while he's having his medical for Fulham.

West Ham did it.

Nantes want Park!

y va marquer wrote:

This morning I think maybe just maybe Wenger may have a little bit good surprise for us today.
Maybe.

Seemed pretty confident after Southampton, so we can hope he's got a few pans in the fire.