Adrian Lopez to Arsenal: Rubbishing the Rumour

Adrian Lopez has been linked to Arsenal, with The Daily Mail believing Arsene Wenger could be set to make a £15 million bid.

With the Gunners in desperate need of new firepower, is the Atletico Madrid man the right person to take them forward?

No, he's not.

Read on for more details as to why this is not a £15 million Wenger would be spending wisely.

Arsenal's Situation

Arsene Wenger has admitted he needs to sign a couple of players, including one more striker in January (via The Telegraph).

Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski were brought in this summer as Arsenal sought to provide firepower in the absence of Robin van Persie, but it hasn't had the desired effect.

The Gunners have scored just 24 league goals this season, a total level with West Brom's and less than Fulham's.

Giroud has taken his time to adapt to the English Premier League and may not be the reliable fixture Wenger needs. The decision to recruit another striker is a wise one.

Atletico's Situation

Atletico Madrid have a host of talented stars on their books, but they won't be looking to sell any more than one of them this winter.

Radamel Falcao is the obvious target, with Chelsea and Manchester City making their interest perfectly clear over the last several months (via The Daily Mail).

Los Colchoneros are in the middle of a title challenge—why would they sell their two best attacking options at the halfway point in the season?

Other Options

So, how much will Adrian Lopez cost? Transfermarkt.co.uk values him at around €15 million.

Is he worth splashing out on in that capacity, or are there other options out there to consider?

The Daily Mail also think Arsene Wenger could be tempted by a Klaas-Jan Huntelaar with an expiring contract. The Dutchman could potentially cost around £6 million.

Thierry Henry would likely find it hard to turn down another loan move if Wenger is desperate, while the London club could always break the bank and throw money at Fernando Llorente.

He's Not the Answer

Arsenal need someone who can take the goal-scoring mantle with confidence and deliver. Basically, they need to find their next world-class finisher.

Is Adrian Lopez that man? Absolutely not.

He's a versatile, tricky player who thrived last season in a wide role. He flanked Radamel Falcao, opposite Arda Turan, against Athletic Bilbao in the UEFA Europa League final last season and has continued in this manner.

He's not the No. 9 Arsene Wenger is looking for—Arsenal have enough wingers who are desperate to be strikers already.

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