Pain in the Arsenal
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Zaza Simone or Charlie Adams: Who Should Arsenal Pursue?

By Josh Sippie

By @cfcunofficial (Chelsea Debs) London (QPR 0 Chelsea 1) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By @cfcunofficial (Chelsea Debs) London (QPR 0 Chelsea 1) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons /
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The transfer window shut under a week ago. Therefore it only makes sense that we are already talking about the upcoming transfer window for Arsenal. It is only 115 days away after all.

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90% of Arsenal supporters out there will tell you that Arsene Wenger is a buffoon for his transfer window behavior. After landing Petr Cech, he brought no one to the Emirates. It would have been nice to add some depth to the squad. The only thing that kept Arsenal out of a longer title push last year was the injuries that plagued their first half. Now that the squad is healthy, they are ready to compete. Sure, the team has not clicked yet. But they will. The problem that presents itself is what will happen if injuries strike again.

Wenger holds to his case that no one was available in the window that would have made the squad better. Believe it if you want. Wenger wants the perfect fit for his squad.

On deadline day, last second rumors emerged that Wenger had launched a bid for Zaza Simone. However, he was rebuffed. The price was supposedly increased to £22 million and Wenger backed off.

Zaza Simone had a decent season for Italian side Sassuolo. He scored 11 goals in 31 appearances for a team that finished mid-table. The case can always be made that given a move to a bigger attack, he could amount to more. Zaza thought so, as he took his talents to Turin. However, Juventus currently boast a strike force of Mario Mandzukic, Paolo Dybala, Alvaro Morata and more. Zaza is down the pecking order.

As such, he sought an out before his career at Juve even began.

Rumors have since capitalized on the opportunity to tie Simone Zaza to a winter move to Arsenal. But is he really the best possible option for Arsenal? With Olivier Giroud still given top priority and Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck major question marks, Arsenal could certainly use a striker to compliment their front man.

Charlie Austin is another name that emerged in the transfer window. Many did not give Austin the credit he deserves. He is a goal scorer, and one that wanted out. For just £16 million, I can think of worse ways to spend your money.

Assuming that these are the only two options when January roles around, which would be a better target?

Neither comes from a particularly prolific attack, but Austin has done more with what’s been given him. He scored 18 goals in the Premier League last season despite QPR getting relegated. Not only that, but he boasts a higher shot accuracy as well as contributing more keys passes and aerial duels won per 90 minuted played (via Squawka). He is a physical presence and could offer a nice offset to Oliveir Giroud.

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However, he also plays a very similar game to Giroud. Arsenal may want a change up from time to time. Then again, that is what Walcott and Welbeck are for.

Charlie Austin is a goal scorer. That’s what he does. Arsenal only have one goal scorer at the helm. For £6 million less, my favor is in Austin’s court. Zaza is unproven. Austin has proven he can score against the big dogs in the EPL. Last season he scored against Chelsea, Manchester City and twice against Arsenal. That is a huge credit to his value.

Austin may have issued a prideful sentiment towards QPR after not moving out in the transfer window but that is all it was, a sentiment. He still wants a bigger stage.

Next: Arsenal is in the Driver's Seat of English Football

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