Arsenal Hold Talks With Griezmann: Surely Not?

Arsenal are reportedly in talks to sign Antoine Griezmann. Surely such fantastical rumors cannot be true, can they?

Arsenal are a team that seem to attract rather incredible rumors. Most are utter rubbish and have little to no standing in the truth and they simply to serve to stoke naive optimism among the fan base at the prospective team that the Gunners could field with such rumored additions.

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Such rumors have seen Arsenal linked to players like Wayne Rooney, Mario Gotze and Luis Suarez in recent years, none of which are now with the club and all of which would have been truly sensational additions had such a move been pulled off.

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Now, the standard of fantastical reports has just increased with the latest name to be linked with a possible move to the Emirates being Antoine Griezmann. Reports state that Arsenal have been in talks for some time in regard to a possible swoop for the Atletico Madrid forward. Surely that can’t be true, can it?

Other than a center half, there is not another player that I would rather Arsenal acquire this season than Griezmann. The French international was utterly fantastic in this summer’s European Championships, scoring six goals and linking up with Arsenal’s big man Olivier Giroud to great effect.

However good a signing Griezmann may be though, it is surely nothing more than a mere pipe dream. First and foremost, Atletico are not in a position where they need to sell, Griezmann would not necessarily be interest in a prospective move to England, and Arsenal would have to fork out a club record fee to even be in range of securing his services.

All these factors must influence our thinking. While I am truly enamored by his talent, reality must come to the fore. Griezmann is a sensational player and would fit in with Arsenal’s system seamlessly, playing alongside Giroud, Ozil and Sanchez to make arguably the best front four in the Premier League.

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Nonetheless, it’s simply not going to happen. I will still be crossing all my fingers and toes that Wnger can oull a deal out of the bag, but it is wishful thinking at best. Sorry to disappoint.