Robert Pires: Arsenal's top priority in the transfer market has to be a striker

Robert Pires

Arsenal legend Robert Pires believes that Arsenal’s top priority in the transfer market this summer should be to sign a striker to help out Olivier Giroud.

The Frenchman told reporters that manager Arsene Wenger should concentrate his efforts on signing Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa.

“For me signing a striker to help Giroud is the top priority for the summer. I think Wenger will try to sign a striker,” opened Pires, who believes that they should sign Costa over other mooted targets such as Schalke’s Julian Draxler.

“Yes, we have Cazorla, Podolski… in Draxler’s position.

“I do not know Draxler so well, I’ve only seen him on TV and he looks good. But I think that paying his release clause is too much.

“If Diego Costa’s release clause in £32m and Draxler costs around £38m there is no doubt. I would sign Costa. But this is just my opinion. I don’t’ speak about transfers with Wenger and the Arsenal officials.

“If Wenger has two forwards he can even play with both up front.

“Liverpool do that with Luis Suarez or Sturridge and when I played we use to play with Henry and Bergkamp up front. Signing Diego Costa would be great news.”

On other striker targets put to the Frenchman, who is currently training with Wenger’s side, Pires admitted that he would love to see Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema join the club, but thinks a move is unlikely, and is an admirer of Real Sociedad’s Antoine Griezmann.

“I love Benzema, but I know that his signing is just a dream, because it is impossible to lure him from Real Madrid.

“Griezmann has the perfect profile to play for Arsenal. He is a great player. I follow La Liga weekly and I like him a lot,”