Arsenal FC: Ricardo Alvarez Is the First Signing for Next Season

With the fantastic and breathtaking Premier League coming to an end for the season, Arsenal stands at the fourth position in the table under the leadership of manager Arsene Wenger. After making an eye-catching start and going on with a style at the midseason, Arsenal finally succumbed to pressure and lost out in the silver race.

Wenger promises to splash cash for Arsenal squad next season in an exception to his trend of low-budget signings. With captain Cesc Fabregas already again in the centre of "he-stays-he-leaves" drama, it seems like Samir Nasri is also on the verge of leaving Emirates this summer.

Though the news comes up everyday with a twist that whether Wenger wants to make stay Fabregas of let him go for a tag of $50 million, nothing has been confirmed about the status. As for the "contract rebel" Nasri (yes, that is what they call him now for not signing a contract), Wenger is trying to sort out a deal soon so that Nasri cannot leave for free at least.

It is obvious that Wenger will buy some players if he sells out some of his teammates, and reports claim that he has already made his first move in signing an attacking midfielder for the Gunners.

As per reports, Wenger has agreed to move for a pre-contract signing for Ricardo Alvarez, a 23-year-old attacking midfielder who currently plays for Argnetinian club Velez Sarsfield. Ricardo's contract runs out in June with his club, so Wenger can land him for free.

Th Argentinian plays as a second striker as well as an attacking midfielder for Velez. However, stats show that he scored a mere two goals in 46 matches from that position.

The 6'2" Alvarez played only 46 matches during his spell of three years at Velez, which is due to the fact that he was injured. Reports fail to identify a solid reason as to why Wenger is going for this under-average player from an unusual recruiting location.

On the positive side, reports claim that Alvarez has plenty of pace to bust attacks into the box and can run across the midfield to play at different attacking positions. He is also know for his powerful shots from range which can (sometimes) score a goal or two.

Arsene Wenger surely looks to make his attacking options stronger with this signing, but will this gamble be a good one for the Gunners? Wenger should definitely look forward to spending good cash in summer now to add some amount of satisfaction to the Gunners.

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Arsenal Ready to Make Record Breaking Move for £22.5m Real Madrid Striker Karim Benzema

Arsenal are ready to make a significant bid for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema this summer as Arsene Wenger looks to improve his side’s striking options. The French international has long been a target of the North London club and the Gunners boss will hope that the lure of regular first team football may tempt the former Lyon striker.

The 23 year old Bernabeu star is very much a back up player and though he initially failed to make the most of his run in the first team, that came as a result of long term injury to Argentine Gonzalo Higuain, a run of good form has led to the Real Madrid man netting 22 goals this season.

However Jose Mourinho has made it abundantly clear that he will be looking to refresh his attacking options with a move to sign another striker which will in turn leave Benzema once again warming the bench and could lead to the powerful forward looking to leave the Spanish giants.

Arsenal have had to rely heavily on Robin Van Persie for firepower over the past couple of seasons and injury concerns plague the Dutch international who has missed more games than he has started during his seven years at the club. New signing Marouane Chamakh started the season brightly but has looked well off the pace since Christmas and back up alternatives Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela are tipped to leave the club at the end of the season.

Whilst Arsene Wenger is known for being something of a spendthrift after six seasons without tangible success or silverware, the Frenchman is ready to make big name moves to help appease the star players he has at the club who are looking for a statement of intent in the form of established star signings this summer.

Real Madrid be looking for at least €25m (£22.5m) for Benzema and whilst that would represent a trasnfer record fee for Arsenal it is still some way below the €41m paid to Lyon for the young striker just under two years ago and a seemingly fair fee for a player of his age and potential.

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Arsenal set to sign bundesliga top striker

Arsenal will need to part with at least £13million if they want to solve their goalscoring crisis with Papiss Demba Cisse.
Arsene Wenger’s side have scored just seven goals in their last seven games – a poor return for their usually prolific free-flowing football – and have all but surrendered the title to Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Freiburg’s 25-year-old striker has scored 20 goals in 28 Bundesliga appearances this season putting the Senegalese forward at the top of a number of Europe’s top sides’ shopping list.
But German newspaper TZ claims the club has told anyone interested in the striker not to waste their time with any bids below £13m.

SOURCE: talkSPORT

Whilst there is no denying that Papiss Demba Cisse is in a rich vein of formit is also true that the Senegal international striker is a player that most football supporters had not have heard of prior to his Bundesliga exploits this term.

Arsene Wenger is known for opting to cut costs by spending relatively small amounts on rough diamonds that he can then hone into the finished polished article and it’s a process that may help Arsenal to keep the club on a sound financial footing, however it does require these players longer to bed in than established stars, which has in some ways left the North London club to be in a continual state of transition.

25 year Cisse has done fantastically well this season but it is worth noting that prior to this term the Dakar born striker had scored a grand total of six top tier goals having previously played predominantly in France’s Ligue 2.

Wenger is also tracking £9m rated Lorient forward Kevin Gameiro who has been very consistent over the past three seasons and is currently the second top scorer in France’s top tier, again though, he is not a big name. Clearly Arsenal have bought Laurent Koscielny from the same club last summer, could that signing be considered a success? Perhaps a month ago it could’ve been but the Frenchman has been shaky of late.

There has been much speculation that the Gunners boss is keen to chop and change his front line and such action seems much needed. Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela may be offloaded and there is even talk of a return to France for Marouane Chamakh, the Moroccan started the season with a bang but has looked out of his depth since November.

Arsenal supporters would probably like to see the club chase relative big names, maybe an offer for the likes of Karim Benzema, but Wenger seems happy to continue his tried and tested pattern of expenditure and in the main that plan of action has been a huge success but after six seasons without silverware, as it may well turn out to be, perhaps it’s time for the Emirates Stadium side to look for immediate returns on their investments?

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Ben Foster Could be on his way to North London

Quite how Ben Foster has doubled in value since Sir Alex Ferguson shrewdly offloaded him to Birmingham City I have no idea. £12million for a goalkeeper in a side that is clutching the Carling Cup as it spins at pace into the vortex of the relegation zone? As sensational as a Pot Noodle made with water from a hot tap.

It is a no brainer that both North Loindon managers need a new recruit in the goalkeeper department. Arsenal went past a sign marked, ‘No Return’ some time ago. About the same time they brought Mad Jens out of his Cryogenic Freezing Unit.

Spurs undoubtedly need someone to boost Gomes, who really too often looks like a man alone. Actually what Tottenham really need is a settled back four. There isn’t a keeper in the world who plays confidently in front of four new face each week.

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Taarabt hopes for Arsenal move

QPR striker Adel Taarabt has expressed a desire to leave the club in the summer with Arsenal believed to be his preferred destination

The Championship's player of the season is believed to have his heart set on a move to one of the country's top sides, irrespective of whether Rangers make it to the Premier League.

The 21-year-old, who has 15 goals to his name this season, has always said he wants to play on the biggest stage possible and Arsenal are thought to be his preferred choice.

Earlier this season he told the Metro: "'I like the way Arsenal play. If Arsenal come, of course, I'll be very happy."

The former Tottenham youngster courted controversy earlier this season when he admitted signing at White Hart Lane four years ago and instead should have headed for the Emirates.

"I would have had a better chance at Arsenal. It was a mistake [joining Spurs]. I would progress with Arsene Wenger because he is one of the best managers in the world," he said.

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