Arsenal transfer window: Is Arsene Wenger's faith in forwards justified?

 

Olivier Giroud has the faith of Arsene Wenger but can he repay it?

With Arsenal making only one signing in the summer transfer window, is Arsene Wenger’s apparent faith in his squad justified? We examine the stats that suggest he’ll need much more from his forwards if the doubters are to be silenced…

The early optimism that followed the arrival of Petr Cech feels some time ago now. Arsenal fans watched and they waited. But to no avail. The only club in Europe's top five leagues not to sign an outfield player. The only Premier League side not to bring in at least five new bodies. Cech's arrival was the beginning and the end of Arsenal's transfer activity this summer.
It's all so familiar to supporters. They will have afforded themselves a chuckle at Manchester United's messy dealings and perhaps even bemusement at Manchester City's spending. But any crumbs of comfort taken by Arsene Wenger's vantage point on the moral high ground will be tempered by the reality of being lower in the table than those anticipated title rivals.