Charting Arsenal's Summer Hunt for a Striker

Arsenal have once again been at the fore of this summer's round of hyped transfer stories.

Unlike recent summers, the Gunners have not had to contend with the inevitable departure of their best player to a rival club. But their inability to do their business early has led to a firestorm of speculation about when, and if, they will make their move.

And, as the market contracts every single day, some wonder who Arsenal will end up moving for.

The team chiefly requires reinforcement at striker, but no marquee player has been brought in as yet. Let us reflect on and remember who has been linked with a move to the Emirates this summer, and when.

Stevan Jovetic

Before any of the hoopla about Gonzalo Higuain coming to Arsenal was brewed up, many were led to believe that now-ex-Fiorentina man Stevan Jovetic was the man who would be tasked with improving the Gunners' forward line.

The Daily Mail reported in late May that Arsenal and Fiorentina were contentiously wrangling about the striker's price, but advanced negotiations were in place to conclude a deal as expediently as possible.

We know now that that was likely a whole lot of sensationalist bunk.

Jovetic eventually signed for Arsenal's rivals, Manchester City, for the hefty but certainly not exorbitant sum of £22 million, according to the BBC.

Wayne Rooney

In perhaps the most fantastical and least credible Arsenal-related transfer rumor of the summer (and one that has not completely died yet according to the Daily Mail via Mirror Football), Wayne Rooney was strongly linked with a move to the Emirates.

His future at Manchester United is obviously uncertain, with a new manager in charge, a new creative force bossing attacking midfield in Shinji Kagawa and Robin van Persie banging in buckets of goals every week.

Rooney formerly occupied both of these roles at Old Trafford, and he could yet do so at another club. Theoretically, Arsenal could give him the chance to do so.

The problem, of course, is that the club would be forced to fork over tremendously inflated wages to a player who would not be inclined to take a pay cut, in addition to the undoubtedly massive transfer fee.

Unsurprisingly, this rumor has largely died its natural death. 

In perhaps the most fantastical and least credible Arsenal-related transfer rumor of the summer (and one that has not completely died yet), Wayne Rooney was strongly linked with a move to the Emirates.

His future at Manchester United is obviously uncertain, with a new manager in charge, a new creative force bossing attacking midfield and a new superstar striker banging in buckets of goals every week.

Rooney formerly occupied both of these roles at Old Trafford, and he could yet do so at another club. Theoretically, Arsenal could give him the chance to do so.

The problem, of course, is that the club would be forced to fork over tremendously inflated wages to a player who would not be inclined to take a pay cut in addition to the undoubtedly massive transfer fee.

Unsurprisingly, this rumor has largely died its natural death. 

Gonzalo Higuain

You can now see visual proof that Gonzalo Higuain is a Napoli player, but Arsenal fans were, for weeks, all but convinced that he was going to be suiting up in red and white.

We were wooed by the words of those like David Ornstein, who tweeted in June, as the story was beginning to morph into a saga: 

"

Arsenal priority a top cf. Higuain 1st choice & keen. #Afc also want 1 holding + 1 attacking mdf. No df unless any leave. Not in for Rooney.

— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) June 16, 2013"

The potential deal inched closer at a snail's pace, and Arsenal's inability to actually get anything done began to cause alarm. When nouveau riche Napoli entered the race, they rapidly sealed a roughly £35 million transfer, according to CBC.

Luis Suarez

Arsenal's current interest in Luis Suarez began with a seemingly throwaway £30 million offer that was summarily rejected by Liverpool.

The story withered a bit amid the Higuain hoopla, but exploded back to life after Arsenal submitted a massive and peculiar £40,000,001 offer that supposedly allows the club to speak to Suarez and his representatives.

Perhaps these rumors have been so captivating because Arsenal seem to have no other option remaining in their search for a new striker after the Higuain deal fell through.

Suarez is obviously a tremendously talented footballer, but it is amazing that a frugal club would shatter its transfer record on a volatile player who is still serving a suspension.

Until Arsenal sign either Suarez or another striker, this story will dominate the rest of the summer.

Follow @charliemelman