Arsenal Transfer News: Wenger Right to Rule out Edinson Cavani

Is Cavani worth Arsenal's troubles?
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It’s no secret that Arsenal and Arsene Wenger are dreaming over the possibility of adding Napoli’s Edinson Cavani to their squad, as The Independent already made it clear a few days ago.

Cavani’s numbers in Napoli are indeed eye-popping (he has 16 goals in 17 matches in the current Serie A season, which makes him the league’s top scorer). He has also proved time and time again that he is one of the world’s premier scorers, on the same level as stars like Radamel Falcao Garcia, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi (yes, you read that right: Lionel Messi).

However, Arsenal still might not want or be able to make the move for the 25-year-old Uruguayan just yet.

Here is why Arsene Wenger has all the right in the world to not sign Edinson Cavani.

Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud

Remember these guys?
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Oh, soccer fans do have short memories.

Theo Walcott just signed a new long-term contract, guaranteeing that Gunners fans will watch him wear red for another three-and-a-half years. The contract also guarantees him around £100,000 per week, The Sun reports. One has to wonder, where will Arsenal get the money to pay for Cavani?

Also, it wasn't so long ago that Olivier Giroud made the leap from Montpellier to the EPL. He isn't producing the way fans would hope he would yet (six goals in 20 matches thus far), but he has been far from useless. A gamble with Cavani might mean less playing time for the Frenchman, which would lead to the Gunners missing out on the wonderful player Giroud can be.

Not to mention other forwards like Lukas Podolski who are still featured in Wenger’s offense.

Do Arsenal really have space for Cavani?

Competition Might Be Too Stiff, and the Price Might Be Too High

Mancini has his eye on Cavani
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For all you Gunners fans who think Cavani is only a phone call and a signature away from wearing red: not so fast. The current EPL champs happen to be scouting the Uruguayan striker, too, according to Caught Offside. The Citizens would be ready to spend $40 million to make him wear another shade of blue (even if that shade is extremely similar).

The same report says that Wenger found Cavani’s price to be a bit of a “stumbling block.”

It has also been reported before (specifically, by the Mirror) that Chelsea were ready to make a move for the player.

While that might not be a reason for Arsenal to back away from Cavani, it is more than enough reason for Cavani to back away from Arsenal. While the Gunners are struggling to crack their way into the Europa League, sitting at the sixth EPL spot and three points behind Everton, Manchester City are enjoying another good year and are hunting Manchester United down for the top spot in the league.

If you are Edinson Cavani, which colors would you want to wear? The ones that are going to the Champions League, right?

If that is the case, Arsenal fans should start losing their hopes. Now.

Wilfried Zaha

Zaha might be a better fit for the Gunners
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If Arsenal feel they need another forward, they are looking at the wrong guy. Or, at least, not giving enough attention to the right guy.

Wenger, have you ever seen Wilfried Zaha play?

He is on a roll with his current club, the Championship’s Crystal Palace. His most current showing in the 0-0 tie with the Bolton Wanderers in Selhurst Park was highlighted by the English press, including the Daily Mail, who described it as a “virtuoso display.”

Now, the transfer would not be a piece of cake, as rivals Manchester United have their eye on the 20-year-old, too.  The Reds are willing to cash out £12 million to beat the Gunners to the race, according to another article by the Daily Mail.

Wenger would be wise to make a stronger case for the young gun, who was called up to the English international team in the 4-2 loss to Sweden (marked by Zlatan’s four goals and his insane bicycle kick) and should be called up more often as he matures.

Sign him up, Arsene!

He’s Not for Sale

Cavani is fine in Napoli, thank you very much.
Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

Well, that might make a transaction a bit more difficult.

Once again according to Caught Offside, Napoli stated that they are not looking to sell their scoring machine just yet. In fact, they have rejected a £46 million offer from an “unnamed team” and affirmed there is no price tag on the striker.

Let’s look at it this way: why on Earth would Napoli sell him right now?

Cavani joined Napoli in 2010 and has scored 91 times in 118 appearances with the baby blue shirt. They are currently running to catch Juventus on top of the Serie A table, who lead them by only five points, and Cavani is the league’s top scorer.

Again, explain to me why he would leave Napoli?