Arsene Wenger’s search for a striker at the Emirates was bleak in the summer transfer window with the likes of Jamie Vardy, Mauro Icardi and Alexandre Lacazette all failing to reach a deal with the Gunners. Though the manager decided to spend big on the in-form La Liga star Lucas Perez, but it is clear that he is still in need of a player who can constantly score goals for the side and has been linked with some of the best strikers in the world. One such player, who is now extensively linked with a move to the Emirates, is England international Daniel Sturridge.
The 27-year old is one of the best finishers in the game of football, as he showed in the 2013-14 season where he scored for fun alongside Uruguayan Luis Suarez. His injuries saw him lose out on a place in the side and has gone on from a regular customer to an impact substitute in the starting XI for the Reds. His goal scoring ratio is right up there with the best in Europe but his recent performances in a Red shirt has seen Klopp stick with Roberto Firmino as a false-9 to lead the side in attack. Still an integral part of the squad, it is evident that the England international is not really happy with his position in the squad and is reportedly ready to quit Anfield with bookies slashing odds on Arsenal being his next destination.
From the outside, Sturridge to Arsenal looks a match made in heaven. The 27-year old is a silky player who has some serious skills. He has the ability to play around defenders and toy with them while his English upbringing allows him to cope with the physicality of the league. He is not as quick as he used to be a few years ago but his left-foot is still as productive. As already mentioned, he is still one of the best finishers in the game, and Liverpool will not be ready to let him go but if he is in search of first team football, Arsenal might be a place that will suit him.
At Liverpool, Sturridge will be the first choice to replace any of the players in the first team at the moment and will play a huge role in their title race this season. But at his age, he will need all the game time he can get which is not going to be easy at Arsenal as well. With Olivier Giroud already in the squad, Wenger managed to add Lucas Perez to his attack and has got Alexis Sanchez playing as a false-9. Though Sturridge would be above Perez in the order of picking for Wenger, it is not an ideal situation for the English striker who wants to be the first choice striker at the club he plays for. A front line of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Daniel Sturridge is easily one of the best in the league but it is not something that Arsene Wenger can afford for every game.
The crowd at Anfield love him and have stuck with him through thick and thin and though it might be hard, Sturridge will surely want to stick his neck out for the fans and will not really be wondering about moving to a direct challenger of the club. However, if Klopp continues to shunt him out of the starting lineup even after performances like the one in the League Cup against Spurs, he will be well advised to look elsewhere for regular football. Arsenal is just not the right destination for the 27-year old.
Do you think Arsene Wenger will get his man in the next couple of transfer windows?