Ray
Parlour feels the addition of a proven goalscorer such as Karim Benzema would
give the Arsenal attack the focal point it currently lacks.
Parlour,
who made 470 appearances for the Gunners between 1991 and 2004, says he does
not know who the club’s first-choice centre forward is, a situation which is in
stark contrast to the other leading Premier League clubs.
Arsenal
have been strongly linked with a bid for Real Madrid striker Benzema,
predominantly by the press in Spain, and Thierry Henry commented last week that
he felt that transfer would make them serious title contenders.
Parlour
feels the Gunners have the financial power to bring players such as Benzema to
the club, having added star international players Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez
in previous transfer windows.
And
while he accepts criticism of Arsenal will increase following their 2-0 home
defeat to West Ham on the opening weekend of the season, Parlour feels having
an out-and-out first-choice striker would be beneficial.
“That is a position they’ve got to look at,”
he told Sky Sports. “Everyone is going to jump on the bandwagon now but
it’s a long, hard season and there’s a long way to go.
“If
you look at Man City, you know Sergio Aguero is their main man, for Manchester
United it’s Wayne Rooney and at Chelsea, it’s Diego Costa. Who is it at
Arsenal?
“I
didn’t know who would start for Arsenal on Sunday because Theo Walcott started
the Community Shield. I don’t think they have someone who you can say ‘he’s
definitely going to play and he will score us goals’.
“Walcott
will run in behind and has more pace and Giroud brings the midfield in a bit
more – I think he (Giroud) is ahead of Theo at the moment.
“(Karim)
Benzema has been well linked and if they could get a proven goalscorer like
that then it would be fantastic. They can afford to get him and start competing
in the transfer market whereas before they couldn’t because of the stadium.”
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