With Michu and Luis Suarez off Limits, Which Strikers Could Arsenal Sign?

Arsenal's attempts to sign Luis Suarez appear to be failing.

According to the BBC, the Uruguayan returned to training with the Liverpool first-team today after holding talks with Brendan Rogers. It seems they may have made peace, and Suarez could be set to stay.

John Cross of The Mirror had speculated that if Arsenal failed to snare Luis Suarez, they could turn to Swansea City's Michu. However, Swans boss Michael Laudrup insists the Spaniard is not for sale at any price. He told Sky Sports:

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I think economically the club is very good. I know if they (Arsenal) came in with a very late bid, I know that the reaction from the board and chairman will be 'No', even if the money is ridiculous, as we will not have time enough to find a replacement who is near enough to the same standard.Arsenal are running out of time and options.

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Arsenal are running out of time and options.

Over the coming slides we identify three men Arsenal could turn their attention to as they look to solve their striking crisis.

Wayne Rooney

If Arsenal want a big name they should submit a big for Manchester United’s disgruntled star, Wayne Rooney.

Rooney is being heavily linked with a move to Chelsea at the moment, but it’s not long ago that The Mirror identified Arsenal as a potential rival buyer for the England forward.

Acquiring Rooney would represent a significant gamble for Arsenal, given the player's much-publicised struggles with form and fitness. However, it would be no bigger gamble than signing a player with Luis Suarez's combustible character and controversial past.

Manchester United continue to insist that they will not sell Wayne Rooney to Chelsea. Perhaps, however, they would consider letting him a join a different London club.

Edin Dzeko

With Manchester City having acquired Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic, Edin Dzeko might be fearing for his first-team place.

If he should become unsettled and choose to leave, Arsenal would welcome him in to their threadbare squad. According to The Mirror, Dzeko is one of the top targets that Arsene Wenger has left this summer.

The Bosnian forward has struggled to replicate his stunning Wolfsburg form at City, but Wenger will have not have forgotten the big man's titanic performances in the Bundesliga. At his best, Dzeko can be unstoppable.

If Wenger can restore his confidence, Dzeko could yet prove to be an upgrade on the inconsistent Olivier Giroud.

Christian Benteke

Signing Christian Benteke appears impossible. After initially demanding a transfer, the big Belgian has reneged on that wish to sign a new contract with Aston Villa.

However, in football a contract only ever means so much. Benteke's representatives may even have demanded the inclusion of a release clause. If a big club comes knocking, he'll surely want to go.

Arsenal's interest in Benteke has already been well documented by The Express. If the Villa man impresses at the Emirates tomorrow, Arsenal could be tempted to make a formal bid.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout the 2013-14 season. Follow him on Twitter here.