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Wenger, who missed out on signing a striker over the summer, should sign a striker in January to help Arsenal in their title chase since Giroud has struggled off -late in maintaining the high standards expected of the main striker of a top European side.
1. Diego Costa
Diego Costa is one of the best strikers in the world. His form for Atletico Madrid has been out of this world, in 16 La Liga games this season, the Brazilian born striker has found the net 17 times, making him the joined highest scorer in Europe alongside Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, meaning that the Spanish side have not missed Radamel Falcao after his mega money move to AS Monaco. Costa is fast, strong, skillful and has a good passing range, while his shot to goal ratio is 0.32, meaning that he is currently the most clinical striker in Europe. With a reported £32m buyout clause, he wouldn’t come cheap, but would surely be worth it, should he want to leave Atletico.
2. Kostas Mitroglou
Olympiakos striker Kostas Manolas may not be the best known striker in the world, but his form this season has proven that he may be one of the best. The only doubt is that he hasn’t ever playedfor a top level club. A successful spell with Borussia Monchengladbach caught the eye of the Greek giants, and earned him a move to a club where he would be playing Champions League football consistently. 3 goals in 5 Champions League games this season shows that he can produce in European competition, while in the Greek Super League this season he has netted 14 times in 10 games, making him the highest scorer in Greece. With 103 professional career goals at the age of 25, he could well go on to have a 300 goal career, and Arsenal will want a player like him in their team to take them to the next level. (stats courtesy of int.soccerway.com)
Conclusion
Both strikers are highly talented goal machines that have proven how good they are with stellar performances this season. But as Atletico Madrid have a genuine chance of winning La Liga this season and finally breaking up the Barcelona – Real Madrid duopoly, while they have also progressed in the Champions League, and although they face a very tough set of games against AC Milan, it is unlikely that Costa will ask to leave. Meanwhile Mitroglou also helped inspire his side to Champions League knockout qualification, so it is unlikely he will want to leave either, though a move to a top club may be enough to seduce him to leave Greece, though there are also rumoursthat he will replace Robert Lewandowski at Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season. Costa is the better player, and therefor will command a higher price, while he has outshone Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in La Liga this season. A move for Mitroglou would cost less, move faster and also have a higher success rate, so Kostas Mitroglou is the more logical option, though if there is any hint from Diego Costa that he would leave Atletico to join Arsenal, Wenger will have no choice but to make a move happen.
