EURO 2016 is so close we can almost smell it, and there will be plenty of talent on show in France this summer. The European Championship will run from 10th June until the 10th July and Europe’s top countries will be battling out to claim the one of the biggest prizes in European football.
Just a few hours journey away from the Stade de Princes by train, sit Arsenal who have just finished the season in second place, pipping their rivals, Tottenham, to the runners-up spot behind Leicester City.
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud could be starting for the host nation this summer, as Karim Benzema is ruled out of the competition. The French striker had a miserable campaign, including a 15 game goal-less run, however the tall forward ended the season with a hat-trick against Aston Villa.
Arsenal’s other forwards didn’t have the happiest of times either, Theo Walcott has failed to make the England squad and international team-mate Danny Welbeck has been ruled out for nine months.
So here are FIVE strikers Arsene Wenger MUST look out for this summer…
Robert Lewandowski
Perhaps the most obvious choice here. Lewandowski has been in fine form in the Bundesliga this season, scoring 30 goals – making the first man to do so in 39 years! Lewandowski will be hoping to fire Poland to the top of Group C where they will face Northern Ireland, Germany and Ukraine. Lewandowski has 34 goals for his country and will surely add a few more to his already impressive tally.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
This will presumably be Zlatan’s last international tournament and also presumably the big Swede’s final chance to play in the Premier League. The 34 year old has won titles in France, Italy, Sweden, Holland and Spain and 2016/17 will surely be his last opportunity to add another serious new prize to his collection.
The Sweden captain has 62 goals for his country and will look to add some more in Group E where he will face the Republic of Ireland, Italy and Belgium. Ibrahimovic is a free agent after leaving PSG and it would be crazy for Wenger not to consider signing him up.
Alvaro Morata
Morata has been a fine player for both Real Madrid and Juventus in his relatively short career so far. The 23 year old is quick and can find the net easily, so Arsene Wenger would have to bid a lot for the youngster, although Morata is surely worth the gamble.
Morata has been named in Vicente Del Bosque’s squad ahead of Fernando Torres and Diego Costa, which proves his quality. He will face Turkey, Croatia and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech for the Czech Republic in Group D in France.
[ad_pod id=’arsenal-players’ align=’center’]
Romelu Lukaku
It seems like Romelu Lukaku has been around for ages. The 22 year old has already played for three Premier League clubs and scored over 50 goals in the division. Lukaku scored an outstanding 18 goals this season for an Everton side that seriously under-performed and also has 11 goals for his country – he will look to add to that total in Group E where he will be up against Italy, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland.
[ad_pod id=’arsenal-players’ align=’center’]
Antoine Griezmann
This could be the signing of the summer if Arsenal pull it off. Griezmann has been phenomenal for Atletico Madrid in Spain this season and has a Champions League final to look forward to in a few days’ time. The French forward netted 22 goals for Diego Simeone’s side and claimed six assists too while scoring an impressive seven goals in the Champions league.
The 25 year old will surely add to his seven goals for the French side this summer as the hosts take on Romania, Albania and Switzerland in Group A. In my opinion, Wenger and Kroenke can’t be stubborn, and if Arsenal could sign Griezmann for anything less than £70m, it could be one of the greatest deals in Premier League history.
[ad_pod id=’arsenal-players’ align=’center’]