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‘Jo-Jo’ – The Man Arsenal So Desperately Need This Summer

With yet another football season rapidly drawing to a close, it is this time when the rumours are thrown around in relation to transfers.

One such rumour is the one surrounding Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic, who has been linked with a number of clubs, including English Premiership side Arsenal. The striker from Montenegro, whilst not being a prolific scorer, has shone in Serie A since his £8 million move from Partizan Belgrade back in 2008. His good performances have gone a long way in increasing his value and it is thought that the Italian club based in Florence will be asking for £25 million for their prised asset.

Arsenal, Juventus and City in tug-of-war for Jovetic
Arsenal, Juventus and City in tug-of-war for Jovetic, but who will land him?

Arsenal, who are battling it out for a Champions League place are once again set for another trophy-less year, their 8th in succession. This has been meant with anxious views of Gunners’ fans who are struggling to see when their once prosperous side will lift another cup. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is well known for his lack of spending in transfer windows due to the inflated prices of individuals who are sought after but yet another season without success may change the philosophy of the well-respected French coach.  Wenger has been promised around £70 million to spend on the squad this summer and he has targeted acquiring the services of Barcelona striker David Villa, as well as Jovetic. The Arsenal manager has admitted to the press that he is ‘afraid’ of Chelsea’s planned summer splurge. The North-London club are looking for a striker to compliment the play of Olivier Giroud who has had a decent first season at the Emirates, scoring 11 goals in 33 appearances. But with Giroud being used as more of a target player since his move from Montpellier last summer, Arsenal officials are after a smaller man to play off the knock-downs won by the French striker. This signing could also pave the way for a permanent change to the popular 4-3-3 formation with two inside forwards being  used on the wings to support a larger target man.

The Montenegro forward has expressed his desire to leave Fiorentina and play in the Premier League, with Arsenal seemingly a likely location. Not only will Jovetic receive a chance to showcase his skills in arguably the best division in the world, he can also double his current £40,000 a week salary. Wenger is looking to strengthen the spine of his side which has looked somewhat weaker since the departure of playmaker Cesc Fabregas and goalscorer Robin Van Persie. However, with just 34 goals in 111 appearances in Italy, many Arsenal fans may question if Jovetic is the right man to partner Giroud in attack. It is important to mention that his Fiorentina side is a lot weaker compared to how it was back the 90s, with poor league finishes seemingly being the norm these days. Jovetic’s 14 goals in 27 games only helped limp the side to a 13th place finish.

Jovetic, nicknamed ‘Jo-Jo’ by fans has also contributed on the international stage and is a founding member of the Montenegro side which was formed after their independence in 2007. The country which split from Serbia has done extremely well to gain a number of positive results against much more populated nations. Jo’Jo’s goals have helped fire his side to the top of their World Cup qualifying group, ironically above England where he could soon be plying his trade on a domestic basis.

Time will tell whether this transfer will happen but with many pundits and papers already speculating that talks have begun, it may not be long before Jovetic joins Arsenal and this can certainly be seen as a positive for a club which are desperate to return to the days of challenging for the title.

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