Gunners ready to switch attention to Cavani after Benzema snub

ARSENAL will need to identify a new transfer target if they wish to strengthen their attack after Karim Benzema ruled out the prospect of joining them, but reports are already linking Arsene Wenger with a move for Paris SaintGermain striker Edinson Cavani.

The Uruguay international has cropped up on the Arsenal radar over the past two seasons, but the club are yet to launch a serious move for the 28-year-old and Wenger has maintained that he is happy with his current strike options.

However, the 65-year-old Frenchman has admitted that he would be willing to reinforce his squad if the right player came along, and there was hope among the Emirates faithful that Real Madrid striker Benzema was that man.

But the France international ruled out a move on Tuesday, and The Mirror has since reported that Arsenal will monitor Cavani in the hope that he becomes available.

Both Arsenal and Manchester United have been linked with Cavani in the past, and his relationship – or lack of one – with teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been cited in the past as a key reason in why he would want to leave the Parisian club, given that the Sweden international also takes the lone striker role when fit which shifts Cavani out wide.

Wenger’s declaration that his current strikers, Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott, are good enough to lead a Premier League title challenge was dealt a blow on Monday as the pair drew a blank in the thrilling 0-0 draw with Liverpool.

Walcott replaced Giroud in the 73rd minute at the Emirates, but it was the Frenchman who missed the better of the chances offered up to both forwards as he couldn’t convert an effort from six-yards out.

While Cavani’s record in Ligue 1 has seen him net 34 goals in 68 appearances at a ratio of one goal every two games, there are some who believe that he lacks the world class calibre that marks out the best in the game.

The striker has shown a habit of failing to shine in the biggest games, and he only scored one goal in four outings at last summer’s World Cup as Uruguay went out in the last-16.

At 28 years old, Cavani could still be a leading striker in Europe for the years to come, but with Danny Welbeck on his way back from injury Wenger may choose to stick with what he has rather than risk breaking the club’s transfer record for a striker that would offer a similar number of goals than Giroud or Walcott.

The Gunners certainly have the financial firepower to make a move, having shown their capability to spend big over the last two years with the record move for Mesut Ozil and last summer’s acquisition of Alexis Sanchez. – The Independent