After Olivier Giroud's rather difficult performance in the Champions League qualifier at Besiktas, a few questions were raised about Arsenal's need to bring in a potent striker before the transfer window slams shut – a striker who can get you those 25-30 goals in a season, and put away most of the chances that will be created by the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Santi Cazorla.
There are two No.9s that have stood out in Europe in pure goalscoring stakes over the last few years – Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao – and Arsenal have been linked in the past and present with both of them.
The issue in getting a player of that calibre – or even someone like Zlatan Ibrahimovic – has been money. But then, as Arsenal have clearly said, money is not an issue anymore, even if shelling out a club-record fee for a second straight season might pose a problem.
Cavani is reportedly keen on a move away from Paris Saint-Germain according to widespread reports, but a price tag of over £50 million will worry any team interested in bringing in the Uruguay international.
Arsenal, undoubtedly, would be a stronger squad with Cavani in their lineup, while Falcao will also give them that extra edge up front.
Reports recently have suggested Falcao is looking for a move away from Monaco, with a loan option deemed as a possibility as the Colombian holds out for a transfer to Real Madrid next summer.
Getting Falcao, even for only a season, will certainly be a big coup for Arsenal, and the roads to complete a move have opened up just that bit wider, with Liverpool, who were the English Premier League club to show the most interest, now turning their attentions to Mario Balotelli, who is close to completing a transfer to Anfield from AC Milan.
Falcao and Giroud will definitely not be able to play together, but Wenger will have so much more room to rest his current main man if the Colombian walks in through the doors of the Emirates. Yaya Sanogo is still pretty raw, and Wenger does not have another true No.9 other than those two.
Chuba Akpom might be another option, but again the youngster is way too unproven, and if Falcao is indeed available for loan, then Wenger should show no hesitation in snapping the player up.
"We are like you, we listen to the names, sometimes I look who we buy in the media but at the moment as I told you we are not in an emergency case," Wenger said. "We have the players we want but we are open as well to any opportunity until the end of the transfer window."
Get Falcao, on loan or otherwise, add William Carvalho and Kostas Manolas and Gooners can start dreaming of the title again.
