Top 5 Players Arsenal Can Realistically Sign This Summer

Now that the season is over, the transfer market will soon be officially opened but in the interim, teams can start negotiations for players. We need to make our move fast so that the new players can bed in and we can have a settled squad for the Emirates Cup and UEFA Champions League play-offs.

One of the positions Wenger is keen to bolster is the attacking unit and the Gunners have been linked with a quite number of strikers ; Jovetic, Rooney and Higuain. Pundits see some of the targets as realistic while some others are simply labeled wishful thinking owing to Arsenal's rigid financial clout. I will like to share 5
realistic striking targets that Arsenal can get.

Stefan Jovetic

The Fiorentina forward has been perpetually linked with a summer switch to Arsenal. The Montenegro forward has been valued at 30 million Euros by the Serie A side. Yes, 30 million Euros is not beyond us if the report that we have good money in the bank is any true. Apart from the transfer fee, Arsenal can also afford his wages, he cannot command more than 100k Pounds wages per week for a start. If we are really interested, he is well within our reach. However, I must say there are better players who are more likely to hit the ground run at the same price.

Wayne Rooney

This is one transfer that punters have labeled a wishful thinking for Arsenal. Not only because he is big name (which is a detour from Wenger's signings), he plays for Manchester United and earns an intimidating 250k Pounds weekly wages. Arsenal face a huge battle to convince Manchester United to sell their star player to a main domestic rival but should they do that, I believe his wages shouldn't be a problem. Though I doubt if Arsenal can match his 250k Pounds wages ( even Manchester United are looking to reduce it) but we can afford to give him 180k Pounds per week if only we can clear out the dead woods in the summer. Rooney is keen to leave Manchester United after dropping off the radar at Old Trafford. The English striker believes he is no longer the main man at United owing to the arrival of Van Persie who is now seen as Old Trafford's beautiful bride. Last summer, they convinced Van Persie to ditch Arsenal in search of silverware, this summer, we can convince to Rooney to join us that he will be the main man at Arsenal.

Romeu Lukaku

The Chelsea striker was on loan at West Brom last season and proved his mettle in the course of the season. With Mourinho returning to Chelsea, he might want to take him back to play the Drogba role but should Chelsea get one of their high profile striking targets (Lewandowski, Falcao, Gomez), they might be open to letting go of their young Belgian forward. Also, Lukaku after seeing the rewards of a regular berth, he won't want to return to the bench. West Brom offered him regular football but Arsenal can offer him much more; regular football, UEFA Champions League football and shot at silverware. Should Mourinho decide to sell or he decide to leave, Wenger should look his way. Their loss might just be our gain and he won't cost more than 15 million Pounds.

Christian Benteke

The Belgian forward was another shining star in the Premier League last season with 23 goals in his maiden season and helping Aston Villa escape the drop. The Villains are keen to commit him to a longer contract but the former forward is willing to consider his options to other top clubs. I believe he is a player Wenger should seriously consider; he is young, prolific, agile, quick, strong and already has Premier League experience. Certainly, his value has increased from the peanuts the midland club paid for him but even at that, it is still within our reach. The only fear I have is that he might find the form of last season difficult to replicate
next season. Second season syndrome is something that affects some players. Benteke can play as a lone striker in 4-3-3 or with another striker through the centre in a 4-4-2 formation.

Jackson Martinez

The Porto forward is a good striker by all standards though he isn't the stellar name Arsenal fans might be clamouring for but who cares about the name provided he can deliver the goods. He is pacy, strong with a good nose for goals. He wouldn't command huge wages and I am sure he will be open to a move to the Premier League which is a step up from the Portuguese Liga. The only problem is that he might not come cheaply. The Columbian was bought as a replacement for Hulk. Porto don't see any player as indispensable but neither do they tolerate pricing down of their players. If Arsenal want Martinez, they must be ready to pay a little bit over the odds for him.

To other news, seems Gervinho's union with Arsenal is on the brink of dissolution. After just 2 seasons at the Emirates, the Ivorian now seems surplus to requirements. He started last season well but he dropped off the pecking order after some woeful performances especially in front of goal. He was dropped but got back into reckoning in the middle of the 2nd half of the season when he gave some decent performances but in the final few games of the season, he didn't even make it onto the field as a starter or substitute. Seems Wenger is contemplating his sale and has already prepared for life post of him with his deployment of Cazorla to the left and with Walcott making the right wing his own, the Gunners are not likely going to miss him. Should Arsenal receive a bid of 10 million Pounds, they should sell Gervinho to avert having another Chamakh in their hands.

That's all for this morning. See you all in the comments.

Arsenal Summer Spending Watch : The Real Deal Or More Of The Same?

By now I’m sure all of you have been sucked into the mad world of transfer speculation. I have. Its hard not too. So many rumours, so much hope, so much speculation. It’s the time of year I love, yet dread at the same time. So many people ‘in the know’ come out of the woodwork and feed on the hopes of football fans worldwide. Its been a long hard season and its shaping up to be a long summer too.

Arsene Wenger has come out and said he’s in the market for some new players this summer, Ivan Gazidis has said there’s money available. In previous summers I’ve not listened to much Wenger has said. During most transfer windows of late he is similar to a poker pro, giving nothing away, bluffing and eventually laying his cards on the table and leaving the fans feeling cheated. This summer has a different feel about it altogether though. This year we’ve got a huge stack of cash, future commercial deals being agreed and areas of the squad that are clearly in need of strengthening. Its true we have had much of that before yet this season so many fans have had enough of the smoke and mirrors and are making their feelings well and truly known. Also many believe that up until now there has been financial restrictions placed upon Arsene that show signs of lifting. All that suggests that there’s no reason to not spend this year.

The beginning of this summer is like many others. We have been heavily linked with a lot of players already. Higuain, Benteke, Benzema, Fabregas and Lewandowski have all been linked plus many more and its not even June. The weight of expectation is absolutely enormous and I bet Arsene is starting to feel it already.

Another interesting thing to consider is that Arsene Wenger is coming to the end of his contract Which suggests to me that he may spend for either one of two reasons 1) he wants a new contract and understands that without reinforcements to the team this year many fans will turn their back on him if he doesn’t bring in some of the top top quality players that many fans are wanting, or 2) he wants to go out with a bang and end his career on a high and win a bunch of trophies.

He has enjoyed the backing of the majority of the fan base for years but this season there’s been a shift with many more fans starting to question the ambition and even the capabilities of the manager once considered to have god like status at the club. The board aren’t silly and they’ll know this so id imagine that there’s also some pressure to sign some big names from inside the club as well as outside.

If the club don’t spend though and we are all treated to the yearly ‘we tried to sign X player but it didn’t happen’ or the old ‘ this team is strong and I believe in them. I will only sign top top quality players’ then id imagine there’s going to be some serious outrage on the terraces at the beginning of next season. Especially if we start badly, the stewards will have a hard job keeping them anti Wenger banners out too. That might not happen if we get off to a good start and the current players show improvement but there’d still be a lot of disgruntled Gooners who feel we are just a few quality players away from competing for the title and cups.

I am optimistic about this summer, like I said this year there seems to be a different feel, even some the harshest of Wenger’s critics are even giving him the benefit of the doubt. We’ve struggled through the stadium move and the struggle of having to limit spending with promises of being able to compete on a relatively level playing field with the likes of United, City and Chelsea being just around the corner for the past few years. And by the looks of things that time has now finally come. The money we have amassed and the introduction of financial fair play makes things interesting this year and hopefully the club match the fans ambition with some top quality signings to get us back where we belong. COYG!!!

Johnny Greenwood @Johnny_G86

Jack Wilshere To Captain Arsenal? | Podolski Won't Rule Out A Transfer Out And Sagna To Join Monaco

With the season over, transfer rumours are flying around but today, I will be starting with our young midfielder and England boy wonder, Jack Wilshere. He is dreaming of having the England and Arsenal captaincy. I don't think the dream is unachievable at all. I have always maintained that Jack is mentally strong enough to lead the Gunners but not sure if he is ready for the Three Lions yet, besides, they have older heads still in the fold and it seems the England set-up is a gerontocratic one. With Vermaelen's Arsenal future up in the air, Wenger might be ringing changes and who knows, the baton might just fall on Wilshere.

"I want to captain Arsenal and I want to captain England. That definitely appeals to me. It’s my ultimate dream. People say players are no longer bothered about wearing the England shirt," he told reporters.

"But for me it’s the pinnacle of my job because club rivalries go out of the window and the entire nation comes together behind you — it’s the best feeling. England have a fantastic captain in Steven Gerrard and I assume Wayne Rooney is the next in line. We’ve got a lot of big characters — but if I was ever offered the chance to captain England it’d be the ultimate honour."

That statement is that of a person who is willing to work hard and make a mark. Hopefully he will overcome his injury woes and fulfill his obvious potentials.

To some transfer gists, while Arsenal are keen on strengthening the side, some players are keen on depleting the side. The future of Sagna is up in the air. His agent has claimed that nothing has been decided yet about the French defender's future.

"This is not the best time to talk about Bacary's future," Mongai told Russian newspaper Izvestia. He's contracted to Arsenal and the season is still not over. We'll see what happens in the summer."

Russian giants Anzhi Makhachkala, along with cash-rich French duo Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco, have been linked with a move for the right-back. The Frenchman arrived at Arsenal from Auxerre in 2007 for an undisclosed fee. Personally, I will not fret should he decide to move on. He hasn't been dependable last season as he has been in the past seasons. It will be extremely risky to offer him a 2 year deal owing to his long term fitness concerns. I just hope should he leave, Wenger will move for an experienced replacement rather than throwing Jenkinson straight into the fray.

Finally, our German import Lukas Podolski has thrown open the door of a move to Juventus. He didn't have a too good first season at the Emirates; playing on the wings as against his preferred central role but in the twilight of the season, Wenger gave him a central role. His niggling ankle injury also reduced his time on
the pitch with the German been perpetually withdrawn around the 60th minute. But it seems despite his limited role in the side, Juventus are keen and Podolski is urging them on but I doubt if he will force through a move. Hear him

"There are always offers, I don't have any influence on that," the 27-year-old told Bild. "Of course I feel honoured. But, the fact is, I have a contract with Arsenal. There's no reason to leave the club. However, in the football-business a lot of things are conceivable."

The 27-year-old has a contract until June 2016 with Arsenal having joined last summer. Personally, I won't want Arsenal to sell him after just one season, he deserves a second bite at the Arsenal cherry. We didn't get his best last season owing to his injury but I believe if that is sorted in the summer, we might be seeing his best
next season. It will be a shame to see Podolski hit top form for Juventus, we need him at Arsenal.

On a good note, Wenger's new steal Yaya Sanogo has been talking up his move to Arsenal, sounding so positive, confident and optimistic. Hear him

"Arsenal could be a great club for me, I scored nine goals this season with Auxerre and they think I can improve my level in England. I am pleased to be following in the footsteps of Abou Diaby who came through from Auxerre. There are many teams interested in me, but Arsenal is my choice".

Interesting thoughts from the French youngster. Sanogo, please don't be overtly similar to Diaby, let the similarity stop at the club and age (Diaby also joined Arsenal at 20) but please don't emulate his fitness record. Gunners need you fit, one player refusing to leave the treatment table is enough frustration for the club and fans.

That's all for now. See you all in the comments.