Another Russian for the Gunners?: Arsenal's Latest Transfer Link

With all this talk about Arsenal needing a new striker, the media has been linking every tall striker in the world with the football club.

The latest to be added to the list is want-away, fourth-in-line Tottenham striker, Roman Pavlyuchenko.

A prolific goal scorer at Spartak Moscow, he moved to Tottenham for around £14m where he scored 14 goals out of 36 games during the 2008-2009 campaign.

However, this season, he finds himself behind the dynamic duo of Crouch and Defoe as well as the talismanic Republic of Ireland captain, Robbie Keane. He has made only six appearances in total this season, two coming in domestic cup games, and wishes to move away from the Hotspurs during the January transfer window.

Current rumors say that Arsenal may have inquired about purchasing the striker, with his agent quoted as saying "What of his transfer to Spartak Moscow? Spartak, Roma, Arsenal, Zenit—anything can happen.

The possibility of going to Italy? Again, anything can happen. When? We are not happy with his situation at Tottenham, so we will do all we can to change clubs in January."

While Roma seems to be the hottest on the trail for Pavlyuchenko, they seem to have hit a bump in talks since they don't want to pay cash for the striker, instead, wanting a loan and swap deal with ex-Arsenal player Julio Baptista going the other way.

With Pavlyuchenko displaced at Tottenham, Arsenal may have a chance at buying an experienced, tall, and playable (meaning not cup-tied for the Champions League) forward. At 27 years of age, Pavlyuchenko would bring experience to an ever youthful squad. His ability in the air comes with his 6'2" build and his classy finishing isn't in question, having achieved the honor of Russian Premier League top scorer for both the 2006 and 2007 campaign.

He would also bring in a different, more direct playing style that Fabregas thinks Arsenal needs to stop from being one-dimensional. His Russian link to Arshavin, as they are international teammates, could bring out a new attacking force in a team recently scrambling for goals.

While some might be deterred in bringing him in because of his links with Tottenham, he could very well be the tall, imposing striker that Arsenal crave with the injury to Van Persie.