Arsene Wenger has been backed by John Hartson to complete the acquisition of one of Europe’s most coveted players this summer.

The Gunners were big spenders in the transfer market last summer, but their failure to maintain a strong title challenge this season has attracted scrutiny from fans and pundits.

With Alexis Sanchez seemingly on his way out of the club, many believe Arsenal will have to purchase a new forward this summer.

And according to former Gunner John Hartson, the ideal new signing would have to be Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann.

“If he [Wenger] does stay he needs to go after the big players and he needs to make Arsenal competitive again in these next two years,” the Welshman was quoted as saying by The Sport Review. “But he never does seem to be in for the big, big players.

“We now know that this summer Griezmann will probably move from Atletico Madrid and he’s going to cost you £85m and he’s going to cost you £250,000-a-week. We know that Arsenal won’t sign him but they’ve got to.

That’s where they need to be because the Chelsea’s will and the Manchester United’s will and the Manchester City’s will.

“But I just feel pay the wages because it would be a crying shame is if Arsene Wenger was to leave and somebody was to come in as the next manager – not even half the nous that Wenger has, not half the knowledge in terms of being the manager that Wenger has shown – and he spends £300m overnight. What a crying shame that would be.

“So if the money’s there why doesn’t he just go and spend it?”

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