Arsenal bounced back from defeat in the North London derby to beat rock-bottom Leicester City 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium in midweek.
Arsene Wenger’s men are in the middle of one of the most fiercely contested battles for Champions League football the Premier League has ever seen with Southampton, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool all a major threat to their hopes of a top four finish.
Their focus will switch to defending the FA Cup tomorrow as giant-killers Middlesbrough arrive at the Emirates Stadium hoping to cause another major upset having knocked out Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the previous round.
Olivier Giroud looks set to lead the line in the absence of the injured Alexis Sanchez, a man who still divides opinion somewhat at the Emirates despite his impressive goal record.
Here we have identified five Giroud ‘upgrades’ Wenger may consider in the summer depending on how the Frenchman does in Sanchez’s absence.
[ffc-gallery]
Click on Olivier Giroud to reveal the 5 ‘upgrades’ Arsenal must consider this summer.
[/ffc-gallery]
Gonzalo Higuain
Arsenal were supposedly close to signing the Argentine in the summer of 2013 for a figure of £35 million.
For whatever reason, Arsene Wenger took too long to submit a bid and Napoli managed to sign Higuain ahead of the Gunners from Real Madrid.
Reports continue to link him with a move to the Premier League however and the idea of Arsene Wenger reigniting his interest in the proven goalscorer is a genuine possibility.
Karim Benzema
Wenger is understood to be a big admirer of his fellow countryman who has averaged a goal almost every two games during his career with Real Madrid and the French national side.
That is still not considered good enough for Carlo Ancelotti however who has been frequently linked with a move for replacement strikers such as Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero.
That is said to have left Benzema unsettled, and reportedly open to a £50million move to the Premier League in the summer.
Alexandre Lacazette
Alexandre Lacazette has recently moved ahead of Giroud in the pecking order at international level with reports suggesting he has also caught the attention of Arsene Wenger.
The pacey frontman is the top scorer in Ligue 1 this season and has almost managed a goal every game for Lyon.
His form has attracted the attention of several Premier League clubs, eager to snap up the man the Lyon president recently described as ‘better than Gareth Bale.’
The fact he is capable of playing on either flank as well as through the middle could well make him an attractive option for Wenger.
Edinson Cavani
The Uruguayan is another who falls into the category of a striker Arsenal missed out on in the summer of 2013.
Cavani was believed to be a target alongside Higuain and Luis Suarez as the Gunners went in search of a world class striker.
Again, Wenger was too slow to act and PSG duly signed him from Napoli for £50 million.
It has not been the dream move Cavani had hoped for however with reports suggesting he has grown frustrated at being shafted out wide on too many occasions to accommodate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Reports continue to link him with a move to the Premier League at the end of the season.
Alvaro Morata
The Spaniard is yet another striker the Gunners have been heavily linked with in the past.
A move this summer may well prove dependent on who – if anyone – Real Madrid decide to sign with reports continuing to link the reigning Champions League winners with a move for Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero.
Twenty-two-year-old Morata is currently at Juventus where he has formed a decent partneship with Carlos Tevez in recent weeks.
Arsenal have money available to make a move straight away however whereas Juve’s business in the summer may well depend on whether they receive big money for midfield star Paul Pogba.
