Exceptional Villa can bring an end to Arsenal’s profligacy

Arsenal are not beset by goal-scoring problems – they are second highest scorers in the Premier League – but profligacy in front of goal has been a consistent issue as the club endeavour to pick up their first trophy since 2005.

Arsène Wenger’s side have often been lamented for their desire to ‘walk the ball’ into the net and, apart from Emmanuel Adebayor, no player has reached double figures for league goals.

With only two wins in their last thirteen matches, Arsenal’s season imploded in just two months. Their failure to finish off games when ahead or make an early breakthrough against weaker opposition proved critical in their failure to secure any silverware.

Hence, Arsenal are reported to be on the search for a new striker.

Adebayor has notched 21 goals in the league (27 in total) but still manages to infuriate supporters with his knack of missing gilt edged opportunities while sometimes seeming to have an apathetic attitude when he is not getting the desired service from his team-mates or if Arsenal are toiling. At 24, he has not yet peaked but more will be expected of the Togolese giant next campaign.

Eduardo began to demonstrate his excellent ball skills and greater confidence in dealing with the rigours of the Premier League before his horrific injury, totalling 12 goals. Yet he was often utilised on the flanks and questions over whether he is potent enough linger. Most crucially however is that the Croat will be out until the early months of 2009 and Arsenal cannot wait.

David Villa could be the answer.

The Valencia hitman has signalled his intention to leave the club at the end of the season having previously given them an ultimatum to win a major trophy or else he was likely to request a transfer. The midweek Copa del Rey triumph hands him one winner’s medal, but the competition is not highly revered and Villa is desperate for either a league title or European silverware.

Most critically, Valencia have failed to make next season’s Champions League – although they will participate in the Uefa Cup after success in the domestic cup. Ronald Koeman has rocked the boat considerably since taking over early in the season, leading to player discontent and ongoing internal rows, and Los Che could yet be relegated following an abysmal campaign.

‘El Guahe’ is 26 and about to enter his peak years. He is a key man for Spain and will lead the line at Euro 2008 in the summer alongside the on-fire Fernando Torres, who is starring for Liverpool. Villa commented, “It’s great playing alongside Fernando. We understand each other totally.” Spain are tipped as one of the favourites, and Villa has apparently been swung towards a move to the Premier League by Torres’s great success in his debut season.

Deceptively quick and brilliantly accurate, Villa provides the predatory instincts for Valencia that Arsenal are desperate to find. He has averaged 21 goals a season over the last three years and is exceptionally good in the air for a player of only 1.75m but has not been aided by the constant turmoil at his current employers which has hindered any serious title ambitions since Rafael Benítez’s departure in 2004.

Wenger has money to spend, but hinted that only minor changes to the squad will be made over the summer months. Villa would cost in the region of £13-18m, a considerable investment in Arsenal terms but a price that would be considered a bargain for a top-class forward in today’s climate.

Whether Wenger’s words can be taken at face value is questionable. Arsenal are set to lose Jens Lehmann, Gilberto and Mathieu Flamini at the end of the campaign, Phillipe Senderos is likely to be sold, the futures of Emmanuel Eboué and Nicklas Bendtner are uncertain and the club will have to fend off bids for highly-rated midfielder Alexander Hleb, wanted by Juventus and Milan.

Adebayor is not yet ready to replace Henry as a regular 30 goals per season striker, and Wenger cannot forever rely on the rest of his players to chip in with a few goals. Twelve players have notched two goals or more in the league, but the nearest to Adebayor is midfield maestro Cesc Fàbregas on just seven, and his primary role is to control the midfield and set-up chances for others.

Adebayor has managed to break the mould at Arsenal with his policy of shooting on-site, and not endlessly passing to others until, more often the not, the chance has vanished and the ball is heading up to the other end of the field. Yet he is not lethal enough, as recent missed opportunities in vital games against Liverpool and Manchester United have revealed, and Wenger has to fill that void before next season.

Villa recently revealed that the Valencia president “always told me he wouldn’t sell me until summer 2008. If an offer comes in I’m hungry to test myself in England.” Yet Valencia changed their president just last month – with the widely detested Juan Soler departing to be replaced by Agustin Morera – and it appears Villa was referring to a long-standing promise, suggesting Soler made it rather than Morera. Villa is Valencia’s most high-profile player and Morera acknowledges that selling him would heavily affect the club’s chances of challenging for La Liga next season.

Whatever the situation, Villa, who threatened to leave a year ago, is said to be disgruntled at Valencia’s lack of progress and is said to be ready to demand a move. If Arsenal do not change their stance, both Barcelona and Real Madrid are ready to make offers while Chelsea are the only other English club interested. Villa, however, appeared to snub the club when stating, “I watch the Premier League a lot and the team I’m most attracted to is definitely Arsenal” and then implying playing alongside Torres at Liverpool would be his second option, although Benítez seems to have ruled out any deal after splurging heavily in last summer’s window on a new strike-force.

Wenger has asserted that Arsenal “are not in the transfer market for David Villa and will not make concrete investigations for anyone at the moment” but should he receive news directly from the striker’s employers that they would be willing to sell, as looks increasingly probable, he would be unlikely to immediately reject the opportunity.

The danger for the long-standing coach is that if he procrastinates too long and Villa excels at Euro 2008, the Spaniard’s value will soar beyond Arsenal’s reach – as Torres’s did after his excellent performances at the World Cup in 2006, thwarting Manchester United’s attempts to buy him – and he will go elsewhere.

A predatory forward ought to be high on Wenger’s shopping list after another trophyless season; a campaign where Arsenal have frequently failed to win because of their inability to take goal-scoring opportunities with any regularity.

Is David Villa the answer for Arsenal? Is Adebayor good enough?
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