Llorente isn’t the man to replace van Persie

Once Robin van Persie had declared his intention not to extend his contract with Arsenal, fans of the club have been speculating as to who his replacement could be. The Dutchman has just 12 months left to run on his current deal with the Gunners, with reports suggesting they will look to cash in on the front-man this summer rather than risk losing him on a free next year.

The likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus have all been linked with a move for the talismanic striker, but as of yet are yet to convince Arsenal to sell. Scout Giles Grimandi recently claimed that summer arrival Olivier Giroud was the man drafted in to replace the 28-year-old, while manager Arsene Wenger also brought in Lukas Podolski, both players arriving from Montpellier and Cologne respectively.

However, a number of fans believe it won’t be enough to replace a player who netted 37 goals in all competitions for Arsenal last season. As it is, Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente has been linked with a potential move to the Emirates Stadium during the summer, the Spain international netting 29 goals for the Basque outfit last year.

Yet, Llorente won’t be the man to fill the void of van Persie, should he depart this transfer window. The two players differ substantially in playing styles, with the Athletic star-man likened closer to new arrival Giroud. Arsenal will need a player that will drop deeper to receive the ball to feet, rather than look for one who is better in the air. As such, Podolski would be a closer replacement to the Dutchman, while Napoli front-man Edinson Cavani would be a better suit as a replacement for the 28-year-old.