Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Breaking Down Why Gunners Need Gonzalo Higuain

Following a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, Arsenal's Arsene Wenger faced pressure to bring in the sort of talent that can help the Gunners challenge Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea for EPL supremacy. 

So far, it looks like that's exactly what he's intent on doing. 

That's because, according to David Hytner of the Guardian, Wenger is close to adding Argentinian national team striker Gonzalo Higuain and is willing to pay handsomely in order to do so. 

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Arsène Wenger hopes that the imminent appointment of Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid will allow him to step up his pursuit of the club's striker Gonzalo Higuaín, for whom he is ready to break the Arsenal transfer record.

Madrid have been without a manager since they parted company with José Mourinho two weeks ago and Higuaín, who has come to appear surplus to requirements at the Bernabéu, nonetheless wants confirmation of where he might stand in the new setup before he makes a decision over his future. 

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Obviously, the transfer won't go down until Madrid's management situation is resolved, but once it is, Wenger appears to be the most realistic suitor for the 25-year-old scorer. 

And rightfully so, as Higuain would represent one of the first major transfer market coups in some time for Wenger and the Gunners, who have grown accustomed to losing out on high-end talent to clubs more willing to shell out large sums of money for star-caliber offensive weapons. 

It happened with Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas. But after watching the Gunners' offense sputter during long stretches this season, Wenger's apparently seen enough. 

In Higuain, Arsenal would be received a relatively young striker who is oozing with both skill and potential but has been under-utilized at times due to the vast amount of offensive firepower of Madrid. 

As a forward with 22 or more goals in three of his last five seasons with Madrid, Higuain has the pedigree of a top-flight scorer. With the Gunners, he'd almost undoubtedly find himself with even more opportunities. 

He's got the instincts and burst of speed required to create separation from opposing defenders on attacking rushes, and those attributes alone would make him an upgrade from the current offensive options the Gunners have up front. 

That's why Arsenal needs him, and it's also the reason why Wenger is content with breaking tradition by paying market value for a player of his caliber.