But the point is the whole reason for the youth policy was we couldn't afford to splash out, whether it's 26m or 16m.

jovetic would be a good start. right back and central midfielder should be our next top priorities.

This would be monumental not because it's Jovetic but because wenger finally breaking the 21m+ barrier, makes a lot more targets realistic. I'd go for Villa or Hig next.

Yes. While I am not convinced a deal is close, it does seem to be heavily reported that we have at least made a bid in excess of £20m. Usually we're looking at players we can low ball a £12m fee for. Lets see what happens. It's critical to get a clever striker in even if his goal scoring isn't topping the charts. Doubt we can get Van Persie quality but Michu-ish quality would work. Theo's going to be the main goal getter if we can find someone for him to work with.

Bid over £20m on players the last two summers in a row, for what it's worth. Verified by Bob Wilson and H. Watzke.

Looks from the Italian press that Jovetic would prefer to go to Juve, but Juve prefers Higuain. No way we get both.

He would be amazing for Juve in that second striker role.

Rayman wrote:

This would be monumental not because it's Jovetic but because wenger finally breaking the 21m+ barrier, makes a lot more targets realistic. I'd go for Villa or Hig next.

It would also mean that we have spent a large chunk of our budget already. Not complaining but can't see us going on a 60m spree.

Klaus wrote:

I think it's a lot less too. Transfer sums aren't usually that huge in Italy.

I just can't see how the formation will work without someone who can hold up the ball. None of the solutions people have come up with look very pleasing to me. Jovetic can't do it, Higuain can't do it, Podolski doesn't look like he can do it. Only leaves Giroud. And Giroud is the one player we positively have to upgrade this summer. I can't figure out what our plan is here.

The Jovetic link obviously looks real - do you think he's not tough enough to learn that role? I'm asking not having seen him play beyond youtube.

I'd like to see this go through, I'm just worried that Wenger thinks Jovetic alone will be "enough." People keep going on about how this summer will prove to be different, so I guess we'll see.

I think Jovetic can learn to play the single striker role because - like Van Persie - his first touch is insanely good. Van Persie also got pushed around in his first few seasons but learned to cope with his technique.

[quote='Gervinho's Forehead' pid='287270' dateline='1369149828']

Klaus wrote:

I think it's a lot less too. Transfer sums aren't usually that huge in Italy.

I just can't see how the formation will work without someone who can hold up the ball. None of the solutions people have come up with look very pleasing to me. Jovetic can't do it, Higuain can't do it, Podolski doesn't look like he can do it. Only leaves Giroud. And Giroud is the one player we positively have to upgrade this summer. I can't figure out what our plan is here.

The Jovetic link obviously looks real - do you think he's not tough enough to learn that role? I'm asking not having seen him play beyond youtube.
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I think he can learn to do whatever he wants. It'll take time, that's all. He's not going to give us a world-class season next year. The problem, then, is that you might spend the next three season honing his skills as a striker only for some other club to swap him up when his contract has little time left. It's an expensive risk to take.

On the other hand it's a more worthwhile project than trying to turn Giroud into a top player.

Dunno what you're worried about Klausie, that sort of thing never happens to Arsenal.

Hold up play isn't always back-to-goal with a big strong striker though. Wenger's teams have often relied on dribbling technique and close control to retain possession, and those players are usually on the wing. Nasri, Hleb, Cazorla, etc.

Generally and in the simplest terms, you need a brute or somebody rapid to play at the point of a 433. VanPersie was an anomaly and even with him you could see how a lack of physical gifts was limiting.

Didn't someone point out few pages back that Jovetic is great at holding up play?

He doesn't really hold up play at Fiorentina. And they don't play 433 anyway. Their 352 system works differently.

Jovetic lacks physical presence but he can combine well with others and create space for himself on the box.

Has a good finish on him too. Composed finisher