Arsenal: Is losing the perfect plan B worth it?

In trying to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal may use Olivier Giroud as a makeweight. Would losing the perfect plan B be worth it? As Chelsea scramble to find one, perhaps the Gunners are foolish in letting one leave.

Chelsea are ruthlessly brilliant in the transfer window. They have, naturally, made mistakes. Selling the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah are certainly some that spring to mind. But over the past 15 years or so, there are few teams that have been able to consistently evolve like Chelsea because of their ability to recruit.

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Now, it obviously helps that they have had the resources to do so. Roman Abramovic and his many, many millions elevated their transfer firepower far above what any other Premier League team could compete with. But they were still able to channel those resources wisely, buying well and selling even better. However, in this January window, the usually unruffled and clinical Chelsea has been replaced by a more wayward, misfiring operation.

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Specifically, their pursuit of a plan B has not gone all that smoothly. Antonio Conte has clearly grown disillusioned with Michy Batshuayi and, with Alvaro Morata struggling, recognises the need for a game-changer that he trusts to introduce from the bench. That game-changer, though, has been difficult to find, with most astonishing reports surfacing on Thursday that the Blues may be considering a move to Peter Crouch, a 36-year-old journeyman whose career was seemingly winding down.

All this proves one thing: Conte knows the importance of having an effective and reliable plan B, especially at the striker position. He wants to have an attack that possesses an element of versatility and misdirection, resulting in a team that can score in a variety of ways, making them harder to defend against. And this takes place just as Arsenal are choosing to rid of theirs.

Olivier Giroud is the best plan B in the Premier League. He has now scored 17 goals as a substitute. That is the equal most for a single club in Premier League history, equalling Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s record. He is also, allegedly, being used a makeweight in a bid for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Arsenal have reportedly agreed to personal terms with Aubameyang and are now simply needing to come to an agreement with Borussia Dortmund regarding a price, which likely involves Giroud, for the deal to be completed. And while Aubameyang is a substantial improvement on Giroud — a quick glance at the goal tally will tell you everything you need to know –, he is built in a similar mould to Alexandre Lacazette, quick, stretching of the defence, ruthless in front of goal.

Neither, though, possess the aerial prowess of Giroud. Neither have the back-to-goal, hold-up ability of the Frenchman. Neither’s touch is as accurate and soft as Giroud’s. Neither have the same experience of English football as the towering, sometimes lumbering, goal getter.

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I am not saying that Arsenal should not swap Giroud for Aubameyang because of their respective height. It is a deal that I want to happen. Desperately. But there should be reservations made regarding the restrictions that it places on the Gunners’ attack. Conte is trying to broaden and diversify his options. Wenger is limiting is. That is a little concerning.