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Arsenal now look like red hot favorites to land Argentina and Real Madrid star Gonzalo Higuain in a reported £25.5 million deal after Juventus apparently dropped out of the race to sign the forward, according to The Independent.
Arsenal would represent a good choice for Higuain as they are a club who can provide a challenge for the player as well as the lure of Champions League soccer. Provided Arsene Wenger can actually be persuaded to part with the funds necessary, Higuain will prove to be quite a statement for the London club and could possibly be the missing link Arsenal require.
Juventus have apparently turned their attention to Carlos Tevez as a cheaper alternative has been put off by Madrid’s asking price for Higuain. The price hasn’t deterred Arsenal, though, who are determined to make the forward their first major signing possibly followed by others if the reports are to be believed.
So where would Higuain fit in to Arsenal’s system?
Wenger usually favors a 4-2-3-1 system with a lone striker, but has occasionally employed a 4-3-3 with wide forwards Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski supporting a single striker. Higuain could be used as the lone striker in this style, however, he would also give Wenger the flexibility to switch him out wide if necessary where he is often deployed by Madrid. This ability to beat players with skill and pace marks Higuain out as a danger man and effectively makes him a utility man as well, thanks to his comfort playing all over the forward line.
When evaluating potential weaknesses for Higuain, the main one that springs to mind is his occasional lack of killer instinct and ruthlessness in the box that separates him from other world class poachers. This would seem a minor issue, though, and something that can be improved over time. Higuain’s strengths far outweigh his potential weaknesses and his ability to grow as a player would make him the perfect addition to Arsenal in my opinion.
James Hilton is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter , “like” his Facebook page or add him to your network on Google+
