Rooney and Higuain - Arsenal summer targets?

This blog, as the name suggests, will focus on rumours, performances and general news and opinion of my life-long supported football team Arsenal.

I'm a journalism graduate with a voice and I do hope you enjoy reading about my thoughts whether you too are an Arsenal fan, or a football fan generally.

I certainly can't wait for the Premier League to return but for those sports lovers, the summer of 2013 hasn't disappointed as we await the arrival of the new football season.

At time of writing, I have just watched the phenomenal performance of Steve Darcis as he beat Rafa Nadal in the opening round of Wimbledon - in straight sets too. That's pretty exciting! The Confederations Cup has also been televised so there certainly hasn't been a lack of sport available in between the end of the 2012/13 season and the start of the next.

Anyhow, few of you will need reminding the Premier League does make its return in 52 days (I hope my maths is correct), with Arsenal entertaining Aston Villa on Saturday 17th August (3pm kick off).

But what kind of Arsenal will we see? The likes of Squilaci, Arshavin, Chamakh, Bendtner, Park and Sagna will / are gone / may be gone by the start of the 2013/14 season, and that will certainly help to clear out dead wood and free up some wage budget.

Of course a better wage budget could help Arsene Wenger bring in established players who demand the bigger bucks, and the potential arrivals of Man Utd's Rooney and Real Madrid's Higuain are being circulated around the media.

But as always, it has to be seen to be believed. If both Rooney and Higuain were to join the Gooners that would make for a damaging strike force, alongside the likes of Podolski and Walcott (when he finds consistency at least!)

Vermaelen may be allowed to leave the Emirates as well while Koscielny has formed a wonderful partnership with Mertesacker and is thought to be completely at home with Arsenal, despite interest from Barcelona and Bayern. But still, there will need to be strong cover for the starting centre-backs, and cover for Sagna if he leaves, however who can say Jenkinson had a poor one last season? He has come on leaps and bounds and I actually look forward to seeing him get more first team experience next year.

For now, let the paper talk continue as us football fans look ahead to the new season. Who would you like to see come in, or go, before the season commences?

Gonzalo Higuain