Arsenal should forget firebrand striker and sign Ivory Coast ace
Published:If reports are to be believed then Arsenal are giving serious consideration to meeting AC Milan’s hefty £29.5m price tag for wantaway Italy striker Mario Balotelli.
Given Super Mario’s previous goal-getting exploits in the Premier League in a former life as a Manchester City player, it’s a move many Gooners will be receptive to.
As well as scoring 16 times for Milan this season, the eccentric 23-year-old has also excelled on the international stage.
Following up goals in his last two qualifiers for Brazil, Balotelli then broke English hearts during the Azzurri’s World Cup opener, rising like a salmon to nod home the winner in Manaus.
However, a shock 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica has since left Balotelli and Italy facing an early exit should they be defeated by Uruguay in their Group D decider, where Luis Suarez and co are priced up at 15/8 to send them packing.
It was during that defeat that Arsenal fans would have copped another glimpse of the petulance which has marred Balotelli’s career to date and should help turn Arsene Wenger’s attentions elsewhere.
Namely, to a man who would be far easier to keep happy in what’s bound to be a rotational one-striker system, will be cheaper and also has a proven Premier League goalscoring record.
That’s Wilfried Bony. Swansea’s Ivory Coast international also christened his nation’s first group game with a goal and more importantly from an Arsenal prospective; lit up the Premier League during his debut campaign.
Bony blasted his way to 25 Swans strikes in all competitions as he promptly went about fading the Michu-based memories of the Liberty Stadium faithful.
The former Vitesse front man would likely cost around £5m less and his hold-up play as a lone striker is second to none.
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