With the opening of the summer transfer window upon us, Arsenal have been linked with their fair share of players in recent weeks. Here, ‘Gooner333’ looks are three players who’ve been touted as potential targets for Arsene Wenger and assesses their suitability.

Many big names have been linked with Arsenal this Summer, mainly due to the rumoured £70 million budget Arsene supposedly has to splash this summer. Here is a look at three potential Arsenal targets and what they would bring to the Emirates if signed.
Martin Skrtel
For years Gooners have called out for a top centre-half to be signed with poor defending costing us big-time in the past. This year was a different story though. We have three excellent central defenders who, particularly during the second half of the season, have performed superbly to keep our European hopes alive.
Despite this, Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel has been linked with a move to north London recently and while there’s no denying he would be a great signing, but we need to be efficient with our money. There are areas of the pitch which are much weaker than the centre of defence, such as up front. If we splash a large amount of the budget on Skrtel, we will have less money available to spend on big name men who will have more of an influence.
Verdict: Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen are three excellent central defenders so unless one of them leaves, I see no need for Skrtel.
Gonzalo Higuain
Since the departure of RVP there has been a real need for another World-Class striker who can bag 30 a season and Real Madrid’s Argentinian star Gonzalo Higuain is rumoured to be the man for the job. Surely this is a slightly risky signing though as he has no Premier League experience? Obviously he’d make an impact but we saw what happened to Olivier Giroud last campaign, he was scoring goals nearly every week to earn Montpellier the league title but when he came over to England it took him months to start getting into a rhythm and that amount of time could have cost us fourth, if it wasn’t for our goal-scoring midfield men.
Verdict: Higuain would be a decent buy but I’d prefer us to target a striker who’s got Premier League experience under his belt.
Étienne Capoue
As we’ve undergone our transformation from title contender to a side happy with fourth, our midfield is one area which has stayed reasonably strong. However, that does not mean we don’t need reinforcements. Etienne Capoue has been long linked with a move to Arsenal and I think he’s a must-buy. A holding player is a vital addition for next season as we failed to replace Alex Song when he was sold to Barcelona last summer and Capoue would be a great signing. The Frenchman shows great composure for a 24-year-old and is one of the few young stars who would not be intimidated by the Premier League.
Verdict: Please sign him up Arsene!
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What do you think Gooners? Would you like to see any other these three signed this summer? Thank you for reading and feel free to comment below.
zazeeqo
May 31, 2013 at 11:22 am
Agreed with capoue. Weve been needing a player like him for a long time. I feel a new CB is vital and individual errors has cost us dearly. Chico maybe.
But our incoming strikewr dosent need PL experience. Theres many strikers whove come from abroad and done well. Id like to see higuain, jovetic, Bony or J. Martinez.
simon kinywa
May 31, 2013 at 3:06 pm
Yes a striker with EPL experience is none other than Benteke and who is available..Period!!
Wenger sign this quy now..
halex Dell
May 31, 2013 at 3:19 pm
Higuain will certainly add more value, competition and spark to our forward line, I’ll montolivo to lead d centre , skrtel isn’t a bad player cos of his ruggedity an aerial ability….Fabregas would be welcomed but first team isn’t a right for him now.
Joshua L. Maren
May 31, 2013 at 4:27 pm
we need two strikers(Higuain/benteke, jovetic), one centre back(skertel/williams), one deffencive midfielder(capoue/benda) and fabregas is welcome anyway.
jermaine burrell
May 31, 2013 at 7:23 pm
higuain would be agreat signing dispite never played in england,with a proven epl striker,like benteke would work magic in the league and europe with giroud and so many of our mid field wingers can play that possition,in terms of capoue never actually seen him personally,so its unfair to comment on him,but seen and know pogba is a wonderful addition for that possision,and nowlets be realistic,skrtel I admired for years but getting old and had one of the worst season I’ve ever seen him played and seen liverpool of all person wanting to sell a player they try to hold on to for so many years must tell u that he must have lost something he had,but to cut a long story short ashley williams is a stronger,faster,less injury risk and the best passing defender in england which will suit my beloved team well and please buy another dribbling,passing,pace and intelligent playmaker who can score goals especially free kicks,because if something happen to cazola I feared the that’s our season and all attacking punch thanks for reading and someone please give wenger this to read. Ps. In wenger we trust,its our time know.
IBRAHIM MORUFU
June 5, 2013 at 9:20 pm
I WILL RALTHER GO FOR BENTEKE, WHO HAD PLAYED IN THE PREMIERSHIP. A VERSATILE PLAYER STRONG BOTH AERIALLY AND ON THE OFFENSIVE. HE’S THE PERFECT MAN FOR POSITION.