Arsenal Transfer Rumors: 10 Playmakers Linked to the Gunners

Arsenal's recent futility means that the transfer rumor mill is churning with more ferocity than ever to attempt to alleviate some of the fans' fears about the future of the club.

The club is in free-fall and faces yet another midseason collapse if they do not turn around their atrocious run of form.

One of the main areas of deficiency that has stood out for the Gunners is central midfield, where players like Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta have underwhelmed recently and the services of Jack Wilshere have sorely been missed.

On the one-in-a-million chance that Arsene Wenger decides to spend on top-class talent during the summer transfer window, let us take a look at some of the players who might be headed to the Emirates Stadium if rumors are to be believed.

Mario Gotze

Gotze has been one of the players most heavily linked to Arsenal this season, and it is not difficult to see why.

He is an absolutely outstanding young talent and would mesh very well with Arsene Wenger's technical style of play. There would be no better compliment to Jack Wilshere in midfield.

With a reported price tag of over £30 million, though, it seems like a pipe dream that Wenger would spend the money necessary to buy Gotze.

Lukas Podolski

This is the transfer that absolutely needed to happen during the January transfer window.

Arsenal desperately required a permanent solution at striker, and Podolski's ability to slot in on either wing would have added to the fluidity of the Arsenal attack and giving the manager more options when selecting his team.

Unfortunately, the move was never completed, but Arsenal still have the chance to pull the trigger during the summer—and if reports are to be believed, they will.

The striker has already expressed his frustration with the management of his small team FC Koln, so it would appear that he is there for the Gunners to go and get.

Eden Hazard

Another young starlet who has been shamelessly linked to Arsenal throughout this season, Eden Hazard has stated that he would welcome a move to the Emirates, even though he hinted at a move to Tottenham only a few days ago.

Like Gotze, the Belgian winger is one of the best players that his country has produced recently and one of the players with the most potential in world football.

Hazard's arrival at Arsenal would signal the club's ambition to stick with the best in England and Europe, and might just be enough to convince Robin van Persie to stay.

Javi Garcia

SL Benfica midfielder Javi Garcia has been heavily linked with Manchester United and Liverpool recently, but a new connection between the Spaniard and Arsenal has emerged of late.

Garcia has shone for his Portuguese side this season, especially in the Champions League, with his sterling performances playing a significant role in pushing Benfica past Manchester United to the top of their group.

His fee may be in excess of what Arsene Wenger usually spends on one player, but bringing in a solid, technically capable midfielder of Garcia's caliber might be worth it.

Riccardo Montolivo

Nobody appreciates a value more than Arsene Wenger, and Riccardo Montolivo of Fiorentina will be out of contract in the summer, clearing the way for a free transfer to Arsenal.

At 27 years old, Montolivo is in the prime of his career and has been described by a former manager as someone who "can change games in that [center midfield] position."

He can add the sort of dynamism and depth to the Arsenal midfield that has been sorely lacking from this current side when Denilson-esque sideways passes around the opposing defence yield no attacking fruit.

Junior Hoilett

Somewhat surprisingly, The Guardian believes that Blackburn Rovers winger Junior Hoilett will be on his way to North London at the end of the season.

Hoilett is reportedly out of contract at the end of this season, which would make any move to a club managed by Arsenal's frugal Frenchman more plausible.

While this transfer would provide value, it is certainly not the top-class, high-profile signing that many Gooners have been hoping for.

Youssef Msakni

This one came out of absolutely nowhere, but SkySports is reporting that 21-year-old Tunisian playmaker Youssef Msakni is being tracked by Arsenal, and the club view him as a potential cheap summer transfer target.

Apparently, after impressive displays at this year's African Cup of Nations, Lille and Paris Saint-Germain are monitoring the attacking midfielder as well.

Once again, Msakni would provide good value if Arsene Wenger's keen eye for scouting young talent proves correct once again, but a transfer like this would be at the bottom of the wish list of any Arsenal fan.

Daniel Sturridge

It would be an absolute coup for Arsenal if they could pull this transfer off, but I find it highly unlikely that any move is possible for Daniel Sturridge.

Apparently, the forward is disgruntled with the fact that he is only being given playing time on the right wing despite the fact that he is a naturally left-footed central striker.

The young Englishman would make a fine partner for Robin van Persie and might even be a pivotal bargaining chip in convincing the Dutchman to stay.

However, the chances of Chelsea selling one of their best young talents to a fierce cross-town rival and annual competitor is slim to none.

Nicolas Gaitan

The second player from Benfica to be recently linked with a move to Arsenal, Argentine winger Nicolas Gaitan does not seem so out of Arsenal's league when one looks at the whole picture surround a possible transfer.

Gaitan is a winger, and thus, could replace Theo Walcott if the Englishman departs the club this summer due to the ticking time bomb of his contract. Even though he is rated at £35 million, if Arsenal did a bit of negotiating and used the proceeds from the sale of Walcott, they could theoretically afford him.

If the Gunners are truly serious about purchasing Gaitan, however, they will have to fend off reported interest from both Manchester clubs, which is not an easy task in today's market.

Robin van Persie

While Robin van Persie cannot be coming to Arsenal on a transfer, his future with the Gunners is just as certain as any other player on this list.

His contract is by far the most vital piece of business that Arsenal must take care of this Summer, and the easy—and appropriate—solution is to simply pay the man.

Arsenal are extremely and detrimentally dependent on their leader and best player for goals; it is true. One must wonder where the Gunners would be if the Flying Dutchman wasn't carrying the team and banging in so many of the team's goals all season.

Still, the club needs the senior presence that van Persie provides and which no other player can replicate. And Arsenal will certainly not be able to find a player who will be able to even come close to replicating the captain's achievements this season.

Hopefully, if he does go, the club will not botch the process of cutting their losses and buying a replacement as horribly as it did last summer during the Cesc Fabregas transfer saga.