The Arsenal Thread XXIII

International friendlies are so dull ffs

At first I was nodding cos I though the last word said "contract".

Giroud is slightly better than Benteke for me. Probably about even in terms of finishing but Giroud's all-round play is better.

If Arsene had wanted Benteke (which he would have if Benteke is so much better), he would've obviously come to us over Liverpool without a doubt.

Benteke has 43 goals in 93 appearances in the PL.
Giroud has 42 goals in 101 appearances in the PL.

I agree that those are similar, however when you consider that 89 of Benteke's apps were for an Aston Villa side frequently battling relegation, whereas all of Giroud's apps were for a consistently top 4 finishing Arsenal, the former is the clear superior

Maybe you should ask your own manager - you've needed a striker for years...

Put Benteke in a consistently top 4 team and I'm fairly sure his goals tally won't improve, he is a battering ram and Villa, particularly under Sherwood played to that. He wouldn't suit a top 4 team.

And this is why stats are pointless in a discussion about a footballer's ability.

Why watch football when we've got FM, Fifa and Squawka though, right?

Stats are probably overused these days, but you can hardly just dismiss the importance of goals per game for strikers

Maybe. But when it's 43 goals in 93 appearances vs 42 goals in 101 appearances, I think we can.

One with Ozil and Cazorla behind him, one with Delph and Cleverley

Yeah, and one playing as the focal point for every cross and through ball, the other laying off the ball to - oh wait, seems we're not talking about the stats any more.