NRM Issue 6: Higuain, Fellaini, Fixture list and Usmanov

With the right purchases, Arsenal should win these games quite easily and Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov believes that signing Wayne Rooney from Manchester United falls in the “right purchase” category. Whether or not the Russian billionaire’s comments will have any leeway with the North London club remains to be seen; however Arsenal have the money and as a long-term admirer, Arsène may consider a move for the 27-year-old.

According to The Daily Mail, Arsenal have their first signing – Argentine frontman Gonzalo Higuain. Higuain reportedly agreed to a £22 million move to the Emirates which makes him Arsenal’s most expensive player, eclipsing Andrey Arshavin’s £15m transfer from Zenit St. Petersburg in 2009.

At only 25, Higuain would bring loads of potential and natural talent to Arsenal, should the move be completed. The Argentinean joined Real Madrid in 2006 to provide the scoring touch; however, since the arrivals of Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo at the Santiago Bernabeu, he has found a regular starting role hard to come by.

What will Higuain bring to the Arsenal attack? The 25-year-old will bring additional pace necessary to create space for himself in a much more physical league, while also adding regularity to the scoresheet – we hope. As Santi Cazorla continues to pick up steam in his sophomore season, the partnership between him and Higuain could prove vital to Arsenal’s trophy ambition.

Overall, Higuain brings an exciting punch to an already promising North London attack. With the pace and ability to play on the last defender, both Walcott and Higuain could equally benefit from his arrival to the Premier League, with goals galore.

While the Higuain deal looks nearly sealed, Arsenal has reportedly had another bid for Marouane Fellaini rejected. Arsenal apparently offered £70,000-a-week to the Belgian (after already activating his release clause), yet this is still lower than his current £75,000-a-week salary with the Toffees, according to Goal.

Fellaini is not going to come cheap to any club that vies for his signature this summer as Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and a few others are in the hunt for the Belgian’s signature, but will he remain loyal to Everton? Some say that Arsenal would be his best fit because of his imposing physical presence in the middle of the park, but he’d also be allowed plenty of room to roam forward as Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta hold down the rest of the midfield.

So that’s it, folks, what do you think? Is Arsenal spending too much on Higuain or will he fit in just right at the Emirates? Or how about the Gunners fixture list, any match in particular that may “make or break” their season? With the current squad that Arsène Wenger has at his fingertips I, for one, would not be in the least bit surprised if the men from North London are hoisting some sort of silverware next season.