Is Controversial Striker Luis Suarez Too Risky for Arsenal, Arsene Wenger?

Arsenal's pursuit of Luis Suarez continues apace.

Arsene Wenger seems fixated with the possibility of luring the Uruguayan to London. First of all, he abandoned his pursuit of Gonzalo Higuain to allow the Argentine to join Napoli unchallenged. Secondly, there is barely a whisper about any other proposed transfer targets.

All of Wenger's transfer eggs are in a Suarez-shaped basket.

It's a high-stakes game. It always is when Suarez is involved. He is a highly combustible and unpredictable character.

Arsenal know they need to pull off a marquee signing this summer. Having spent the early part of the window boasting of their increasing wealth, to fail to sign a top player would have to be regarded as failure.

The pursuit of Suarez has left Arsenal in a difficult position. This is a tricky and complicated deal to negotiate. However, the fact Arsenal's pursuit has been so well covered by the press means that, should they fail to complete the signing, their misstep will be painfully public.

Failing to sign Suarez could prove a PR disaster.

However, signing Suarez could also prove to a PR disaster a little further down the road.

His current antics are indicative of his incendiary personality.

According to The Mirror, Suarez is threatening legal action to force through a transfer. He took the same steps to secure a move from Groningen to Ajax in 2007.

On the pitch, Suarez is known as a man who will do anything it takes to get what he's aiming for: victory. It seems those ruthless ethics also apply away from the field.

If Wenger signs Suarez, he can not claim he doesn't know what he's getting in to. Suarez's many and varied indiscretions are infamous. Controversy stalks his career. If he joins Arsenal, it's unlikely that will instantly change.

Wenger is a respected manager and a firm disciplinarian. He understands how vital it is to uphold the values of a club with Arsenal's history and tradition. However, that does not necessarily mean he will be able to tame Suarez. Wenger has never acquired a player with such a chequered past. In recent seasons, Arsenal's disciplinary record has improved dramatically. Is all that good work about to disappear down the drain?

Furthermore, what if Suarez eventually decides he wants to leave London? Arsenal must know that he will employ the same divisive tactics all over again, publicly declaring his intention to move and threatening to take the matter to court to get his way.

Should that hypothetical situation arise, Liverpool and others will be able to turn to Arsene Wenger and say, "I told you so."

Perhaps Wenger considers the gamble worth it. Even if Suarez does decide to leave England eventually, he may get the best two or three years of the Uruguayan's career. That may be enough to restore Wenger's reputation and Arsenal's place at the top of English football. 

Time is running out for Wenger, both in this transfer window and his career. He is in the last-chance saloon and might be preparing to take his biggest gamble to date.

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.