Arsenal World Cup scouting plans suffer a setback

The Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has made no secret of his desire to bring in a new striker to the Emirates ahead of the new campaign. With the World Cup set to get under way, the Frenchman is indeed in Brazil as a television pundit and is reportedly keeping an eye on his top transfer targets for this summer.

While there has been a lot of talk about Arsenal’s interest in bringing back Mexican international Carlos Vela to North London, as well as a potential move for FC Porto hitman Jackson Martinez, there is another story steadily gaining momentum. According to reports from The Telegraph and The Mirror, Arsene Wenger will be keeping a close eye on the Bayern Munich front man, Mario Mandzukic. Except that tonight, when Wenger would see the striker really put to the test against Brazil, he is suspended after being sent off against Iceland. Maybe this should worry us as well, because it was a terrible tackle.

The 28-year-old has fallen out with manager Pep Guardiola and has stated that he cannot continue to work with the former Barcelona head coach, confirming that he will be leaving the German Champions in this summer’s transfer window. With no apparent interest from fellow Bundesliga big boys Borussia Dortmund and Schalke, it is a certainty that the player will be leaving Germany altogether.

But is the lanky front man what Arsenal need at the moment? In my opinion, I think he will fit the bill just fine. Alongside attributes of excellent hold-up play and decisive running, the former Wolfsburg man is lethal in the air and clinical in his finishing. With all these attributes to his game, you would know that he wouldn’t have to try too hard to adapt to the English game.

At 28, he is certainly in the prime of his career and will most certainly be interested in playing in the Premier League, having already declared his interest in the recent past. While there will be no shortage of competition in acquiring the services of the Croatian international, I believe that Wenger can get his man if he is keen enough.

Mandzukic speaks fluent German despite his Croatian nationality and will surely be tempted to join a club with a growing German contingent and a manager who also happens to speak fluent German, making his adaptation all the more easy. While any potential move may be some way off at the moment, I believe that a good World Cup campaign from the big striker may go a long way in forcing Wenger’s hand.