Misfiring Arsenal line up £25m Michu

If the resounding boos that followed their shock 3-1 home loss to Aston Villa on the opening day of the season are anything to go by, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has much work to do in the transfer market before the deadline closes in two weeks time.

The Arsenal fans that had remained in the Emirates Stadium until the full time whistle – of which there weren’t many – made their feelings fully known following a summer that has promised so much but so far failed to deliver.

It was Arsenal’s first home defeat in 20 years and, having fielded exactly the same XI that played in their final game of the season away at Newcastle, the reason for the underwhelming start was clear – they need fresh blood.

So far only 20-year-old striker Yaya Sanogo has arrived, a promising striker from Auxerre who is not expected to make too many in-roads on the first team this season, and was an unused substitute yesterday.

For all that Wenger is the old master at finding the best young talent from the continent, fans are demanding high-profile, proven names.

Deals for strikers Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez were the two main targets for Wenger, and with the former having moved to Napoli and the latter now expected to stay at Liverpool for one more year, Gunners fans are left wondering who will fill the attacking void and provide much needed competition for yesterday’s goalscorer Olivier Giroud.

And reports this morning are suggesting that Wenger will look to target another Premier League striker should a further bid for Suarez not tempt Liverpool to sell, and if Man Utd prove equally resolute in their stance on Wayne Rooney.

Instead the Gunners will look to a man who scored only five goals less than Suarez last season despite playing for a mid-table side. Michu is the man in question, with Swansea expecting to demand at least £25m, a figure that Arsenal have already proven they could more than match given that the current off on the table for Suarez is £40m.

But with Swansea now all-but-done in the transfer market this summer and boss Michael Laudrup keen to establish a settled XI and continue on the good work of last season, the Swans aren’t going to take anyone attempting to disrupt this plan too lightly.

Should Arsenal make a bid, it could well boil down to the player himself deciding on his future. Having shown their new-found willingness to play hard and aggressive in the market this summer, Arsenal will hope that any bid would suitably tempt the striker into announcing a desire to leave the club, and bolster the depleted attacking ranks in North London.