Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reportedly refused a proposed swap deal involving France striker Olivier Giroud and Napoli centre-forward Gonzalo Higuain
Olivier Groud’s agent, Mickael Manuello, recently told Italian radio station Radio CRC, via Sky Sports‘ Paul Vinell, that his client would be interested in a move to Napoli: “At the moment, Giroud is an Arsenal player. If he was asked to leave, then we would evaluate our options.”
Gianluca Di Marzio of Sky Sports in Italy had originally mooted the possibility of Giroud being used as a makeweight for Higuain. However, fresh reports from the journalist who interviewed Giroud’s agent suggest Wenger has quashed any such proposal.
Speaking to Radio CRC, Raffaele Auriemma provided this update, per Metro‘s Ewan Roberts:
"Wenger has blocked everything. Arsenal were upset by the leak and amazed that after a few hours everything was out in the open, so have taken a step back.Even [Napoli chairman Aurelio] De Laurentiis seems bitter, even angry, not because he wanted to sell Higuain, but because he feels betrayed by his market consultant, who blabbed about several different rumours."
Vinnell’s report contradicts this somewhat, since he stated only exploratory contact has been made between Arsenal and Napoli over Higuain: “Sky in Italy has reported that no offer has been forthcoming from the Gunners, but say ‘intermediaries’ have been in contact with the Argentina striker’s brother who acts as his agent.”
Still, it seems clear there’s real interest from the Gunners in signing Higuain. Arsenal scout Neil Banfield recently told Italian source Gonfialarete, via Mark Brus of Metro: “What is certain, it is that Arsenal have liked Higuain since he was at Real Madrid and Wenger wanted to take him to London at that time.”
Indeed, the Gunners links to Higuain were particularly strong in 2013, when they dragged throughout the summer. In June of that year, the Daily Mail, via Spanish publication AS, reported Arsenal had bid €26 million for Higuain.
It makes sense for Wenger to pursue the one player who could instantly solve a longstanding problem at striker. The Premier League side have lacked a natural and efficient finisher at centre-forward for too long.
Higuain is just that, as he proved by bagging 36 Serie A goals for Napoli last season, according to ESPN FC. His movement is more intuitive than Giroud’s, particularly in the box, and he’s quicker over the first five yards than the towering Frenchman.
Higuain spent the early years of his career in a more withdrawn role as an attacking midfielder and often played wide for Real Madrid. These experiences have added variety to his runs as a centre-forward.
It’s a quality Wenger needs in a squad built around the vision and creative intent of playmakers such as Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil. Higuain played with the latter during his time with Los Blancos, and the two would surely strike up a prolific double act for the Gunners.
Where these rumours become problematic is when Giroud is suggested as part of the deal. It makes no sense for a squad already short on strikers to swap one for another, even though Higuain is a clear upgrade as a lethal No. 9.
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With Danny Welbeck nursing a longterm knee injury, and Theo Walcott, Joel Campbell and Alexis Sanchez unconvincing when played through the middle, Arsenal still need Giroud with or without Higuain’s arrival.
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