Arsenal, let’s face it, will never even make it to the top 4 of this upcoming edition of the Premier League, let alone win the title, without a proper centre-forward. There are plenty of young and exciting options in the market, and amidst Wenger saying that Arsenal will only splash the cash on the “right” player, it got our mind raving. Who is the right player? A deal for Higuain is as likely to happen at that €94 million release clause as Wenger taking an early retirement. Here’s a list of players who Arsenal ought to pursuing instead of Gonzalo Higuain:
1. Mauro Icardi – Arsenal need leaders. That was the claim of many pundits over the course of last season. Boy, would Wenger answer his critics if he acquired the Inter captain in addition to the Swiss captain that he’s already got in his books, Granit Xhaka. The Argentine doesn’t disappoint in front of the goal, and enjoyed his most prolific season in the first division the season before last, when he scored 23 goals and gave 7 assists in 41 appearances in all competitions. This man will surely be one of the big-time strikers in the future, and Inter know just as well, as they’ve snapped a price tag of £50 million on their captain.
2. Alvaro Morata – Granted, he won’t come cheap, Morata’s definitely the next big hitman for Spain. Arsenal will know how tedious of a task it is to force a player away from Real Madrid, having pried away Mesut Özil from Los Blancos a few seasons ago. Morata reportedly has a price tag that rises north of £65 million. Now, that is some serious money. Even for a man as careless with money as Arsène Wenger. In a parallel universe, that is.
3. Paulo Dybala – Dybala is touted to win the Ballon d’Or in a few years’ time when Messi and Ronaldo have bid their farewells to the game. His first season at Juve was quite simply staggering. Unaffected by the relatively low expectations surrounding his arrival, he scored 22 goals and gave 9 assists in 39 appearances in all competitions for the Old Lady. After enduring a difficult start to the campaign, Dybala quickly regained and improved upon the form that saw him arrive at the Turin club whilst being pursued by all the European elites. Surprisingly, the player hasn’t been subject to much transfer speculation, the only story to make it to the surface being his rejection of a proposed €80 million move to Barcelona.
Lacazette recovered really well from his slump in form last season after suffering an injury in December. (Photo via Getty Images)
4. Alexandre Lacazette – The Lyon man was out midway through the season due to an injury, and suffered a scarce drought in front of goal before it. However, after recovering to full fitness, he showed once again why he was one of the most sought after strikers last summer. He ended the season with 23 goals and 3 assists in 40 appearances in all competitions, and changed the links of his potential destinations from the likes of Newcastle and West Ham in January, to the Gunners and a host of other top European clubs including PSG so far this summer.
Alcacer is another rising star that Wenger can get for much less than the other targets that the Gunners have pursued this summer. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
5. Paco Alcácer – Alcácer scored 13 goals and gave 7 assists in La Liga last term in a struggling Valencia team, and while admittedly that may not sound impressive, he’s a player that probably fits into Arsenal’s style of play more than anybody else on this list. He looks a completely different player when he’s with the national team, and as we all know, possession football’s the name of the game at Arsenal. Alcácer’s managed almost a goal every other appearance at international level, and his comparatively low price tag means that he’s at the very least worth the shot. There’s very little risk with this one, as with some level of success Wenger can easily demand double what he is available for today.
