Arsenal don’t need another striker, says Chelsea’s José Mourinho

José Mourinho feels Arsenal have sufficient depth in the shape of Olivier Giroud, Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski

Olivier Giroud arrived at Arsenal from Montpellier last summerPhoto: Olivier Giroud/Facebook

José Mourinho doesn’t feel Arsenal are lightweight in the striker department despite Arsène Wenger’s reliance on Olivier Giroud.

The France international has already played 17 games in all competitions this season, scoring eight goals, as opposed to Chelsea duo Samuel Eto’o and Fernando Torres, who have both racked up 11 appearances.
Wenger has been linked with a move for a forward in the January transfer window amid speculation suggesting the Gunners could bid for Brazilian Alexandre Pato and Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez.


But Mourinho feels the Arsenal manager has sufficient depth in the shape of Giroud and Nicklas Bendtner, as well as Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott, who are both on the brink of returns from injury.
“They have strikers. Giroud, Bendtner, Walcott and Podolski,” said Mourinho.

“I think two is enough when they have other solutions coming from other positions and the style of play that they have. I think the manager has to be happy with what he has.”
Reflecting on his own striking options, Mourinho insisted that Demba Ba, Eto’o and Torres aren’t under pressure to score large numbers of goals due to the west London side’s attack-minded midfield, which boasts the likes of Oscar and Juan Mata.

“It is normal the striker is the top scorer in the team and that is important. But at the same time, everyone in the pitch can score a goal,” he continued.
“You cannot say against Chelsea, ‘I’m going to stop the striker scoring goals’. Normally it comes from others.”

He added: “We are a different team. Everyone one of our midfield players plays behind a striker.
“They have the freedom of movement and of space to get into scoring areas and score goals.
“That’s why Hazard scored, Mata scored, Willian scored, Oscar scored… all of them score goals.
“The way we play, all of our six players in front of the defence can score goals.

“For Liverpool and Manchester United, it’s more about Sturridge and Suárez or Rooney and Van Persie.”