Why Wenger should shock the Premier by landing Amir Zaki

By Stan Collymore

Published 23:57 29/11/09

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Robin Van Persie's injury playing for Holland is a hammer-blow to Arsenal’s faint title hopes.

The Dutch striker is now expected to be out for five months with an ankle ligament injury.

And surely boss Arsene Wenger must now dust off his cheque-book in January to buy a top-class marksman.

The expensive option would be Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh but I’ve seen enough of him to think you could get better for cheaper.

What about Ruud Van Nistelrooy? He is getting on in years but has guaranteed goals over his career and would be a no-brainer were it not for his age.

My left field view would be Amir Zaki. Why? He scores goals as proven in his Wigan spell, he wouldn’t cost the earth and has undoubted quality.

He would know it’s his last chance to shine in the Premier League and those factors would see him fill the gap easily.

Also add to that strength, his age at 26, a fantastic international record and Wenger’s ability to bring out the best in talent.

DON'T SUCK UP TO JACK WARNER

I was appalled to see pictures of PM Gordon Brown schmoozing Trinidad and Tobago’s FIFA big-wig Jack Warner.

It is exasperating to witness world leaders, world-class footballers and administrators continue to suck up to the plum that is Warner.

I think the FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF president is a large factor behind poor football administration at world level.

One minute he slaughters our 2018 bid, the next minute he is assuring Brown we are on the right track.

The man is a clown and has no credibility.

He leads one of the world’s smallest federations but wields power way beyond his experience or ability.

Along with Sepp Blatter, he should be part of a massive shake-up that sees proper football people in charge of the game rather than folk like Warner who do not serve the game well at tall.

STAN'S HERO AND VILLAIN OF THE WEEK

Hero of the weekend: Niko Kranjcar. The Spurs midfielder was a bargain in a very inflated market.

Villain of the weekend: Micah Richards. The Man City defender is not the player we all know he is capable of being.