Arsenal Set Sights On Newcastle United Trio as Wenger Looks to Resolve Problem Areas of Gunners Squad

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Emirates Stadium side linked with summer move for St James’ Park talents.

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Arsenal are monitoring a trio of Newcastle United players as Arsene Wenger looks to strengthen ‘problem’ areas in his Gunners squad.

Wenger is taking a keen interest in Dutch international Tim Krul as he looks to bring in an alternative goalkeeping option this summer.

Wojciech Szczesny has failed to impress this term and has been dropped in recent weeks with Wenger opting to hand Lukasz Fabianski a chance to impress and though he has kept back to back clean sheets against Bayern Munich and Swansea City the Arsenal boss has set his sights on Krul.

Currently out with an ankle injury the former Den Haag man has made the Magpies starting spot his own but the 24 year old may be tempted by a move to the North London club, especially if they can offer him a first taste of Champions League football.

Krul may also feel a high profile move would further advance his case to be the Dutch number one national team keeper.

Arsene Wenger has been linked with interest in Ivory Coast international Cheick Tiote for some time but the French boss is now ready to make a concerted move for the tough tackling Newcastle United man.

The former FC Twente man has been a massive success since his move to the English top tier and has more than repaid the £3.5m Newcastle United invested in his services.

Wenger is looking to bring in a strong steely performer to help give his more creative talents protection, a style of player Arsenal have certainly missed this term. Alex Song was not adequately replaced when he left for Barcelona and Mikel Arteta has been forced into operating in a makeshift holding role.

Tiote may also feel that a move to Arsenal could benefit his career progression but Alan Pardew would be loathed to lose the tigerish midfielder but a lot could well depend on whether Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley feels the need to balance the books after investing in six new signings in the January transfer window.

Arsene Wenger is also monitoring Senegal international Papiss Cisse, believing that the former Hoffenheim man could be an ideal capture to help boost his Arsenal attack.

The 27 year old saw his fellow countryman leave Newcastle United for Chelsea in the January transfer window and could feel a move to London could also be one worth pursuing.

Cisse has had something of a difficult second season in England but has experienced something of a return to form in recent weeks, scoring three in his last five appearances.

The talented forward went off like a train when he first arrived in England, scoring 13 goals from 13 starts following his move to Newcastle United in January 2012.

Arsenal currently rely heavily on Olivier Giroud, with the French international being Wenger’s preferred forward option. Theo Walcott has on occasion been used in a central role but the Arsenal boss prefers to use the England man in a wide role and appears to see the likes of Gervinho and Lukas Podolski in similar roles, leaving the club in need of effective striking additions.


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