Arsenal are preparing to kick off an exciting Easter weekend of football by hosting Liverpool at the Emirates on Saturday lunchtime.
Arsene Wenger’s side will feel they can all but secure a Champions League place with a victory, as it would open up a gap of nine points between themselves and Brendan Rodgers side.
The Gunners are also the favourites to retain the FA Cup which they won in dramatic fashion last term, although practically a carbon copy of last season is not what all Gunners fans were hoping for.
After a summer of positive transfer business which saw Alexis Sanchez arrive at the club amongst others, many were hoping to see the Gunners mount a serious challenge for either the Premier League or the Champions League.
That must be the realistic target for next season, but Arsene Wenger would do well to avoid these five reported transfer targets if he is to make it happen.
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Click on Arsene Wenger to reveal 5 Arsenal transfer targets to avoid this summer
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Chris Smalling
Five years or so ago, the idea of Arsenal and Manchester United doing business seemed completely unrealistic. But Arsene Wenger’s decision to let Robin van Persie ‘listen to the little boy’ inside him seems to have opened the floodgates.
Danny Welbeck swapped Old Trafford for the Emirates last summer, and now reports are suggesting Chris Smalling is set to do the same.
Really… Chris Smalling? Are we missing something here?
Raheem Sterling
A criticism levelled at Arsenal in recent years has been that they do not have enough characters in the side – enough players who take pride in the shirt.
So with that in mind, is a move for Raheem Sterling really a smart idea when you consider he has turned down an offer of £100,000 a week to stay at Liverpool, the club that gave him the opportunity to be a Premier League footballer? Probably not.
Sterling is without a doubt one of Europe’s most exciting young players, but is he worth £50million plus yet? And is he better than the more experienced duo of Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck? For that price and the extraordinary wages he is chasing, you would hope for a significant upgrade.
Victor Wanyama
The Saints midfielder has been outstanding over the past couple of seasons, but is he the long term answer to Arsenal’s defensive midfield problems?
The Gunners have been linked with the likes of Paul Pogba, William Carvalho and Wanyama’s Southampton teammate Morgan Schneiderlin in recent months.
With that in mind, a move for the former Celtic midfielder in the summer would be simply because Wenger has failed to land his top targets.
Stevan Jovetic
The Montenegrin was a target for Arsene Wenger in the summer 0f 2013, before Manchester City snapped him up in a deal worth almost £25million.
Arsenal fans will feel they dodged a bullet somewhat, despite the forward’s undeniable talent.
His fitness record in England to date has been shocking, and he is nowhere near as reliable in terms of goals as Olivier Giroud, who he would be signed to compete with – and for no small fee either.
Jovetic is looking for a way out in the summer, and is still keen to prove himself in the Premier League. But his signing would be a gamble by Arsene Wenger, and the Gunners are in need of someone more reliable to help them mount a serious title challenge next term.
Radamel Falcao
The Colombian is another forward the Gunners came close to signing, and another that once again they are entitled to look back on and feel as though they dodged a bullet.
Falcao has managed just four goals for Manchester United this season, and Louis van Gaal has no intention of paying the £42milion asking price to turn his loan move permanent.
That has seen talk start suggesting Arsene Wenger may reignite his interest in the summer, but for that price – Arsenal are far better off looking elsewhere.
