Five players Arsenal should buy this summer

After Saturday’s dismal FA Cup defeat against Blackburn, Arsena’s season is in very real danger of imploding once again…

With the Gunners well off the pace in the Premier League and facing a tricky Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern Munich, Arsenal are facing an eighth successive trophy-less season.

But boss Arsene Wenger has reportedly been handed a £70m warchest to rebuild his squad this summer. We examine five players the Frenchman should go all out to sign…

 5. Fernando Amorebieta (Athletic Bilbao)

A new centre-back has to be a priority for Arsene Wenger this summer with the Arsenal boss unable to find a regular pairing at the heart of his defence this season.

The Gunners reportedly had a January deadline day bid rejected for towering Venezuelan centre-half Fernando Amorebieta and it is thought the 27-year-old, who has been with Athletic Bilbao for his entire career, will be targeted by the North Londoners again in the summer.

Liverpool are also in the frame to sign the ball-playing defender, who is refusing to sign a new contract at San Mames and will therefore be available at a cut-price.

4. Sebastian Rode (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Not the marquee signing that most Arsenal fans would want, but German midfielder Sebastian Rode could well be joining compatriots Per Mertesacker and Lucas Podolski at the Emirates Stadium in the summer.

The 22-year-old German under-21 international is an ever present for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this season in a surprise season for the club, and with only 18 months of his contract to run is expected to be sold in the summer for big money. Arsenal just need to beat off interest from Tottenham to secure him.

3. Christian Benteke (Aston Villa)

Regardless of whether Aston Villa are relegated from the Premier League or not, there is going to one mighty scramble for the signature of star striker Christian Benteke in the summer with Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham among those in the frame.

It could take a club record £16million or more to capture the giant Belgian international forward, but he could be exactly what Arsenal need – an exceptional targetman to base the 4-3-3 formation around – to get back to fighting boss.

2. David Villa (Barcelona)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger tried desperately to bring David Villa to the Emirates Stadium in the January transfer window, offering £17million to Barcelona to sign the Spanish international forward.

That offer was turned down, but a second attempt is expected in the summer when Barcelona are more likely to willing to part company with the World Cup and European Championship winner. Thomas Vermaelen is wanted by Barcelona so some form of swap deal could leave to Arsenal getting their man.

1. Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina)

Arsenal are thought to have made a deadline day for Fiorentina star striker Stevan Jovetic, dubbed the new Robin van Persie.

The 23-year-old Montenegro international has scored 11 times in 20 appearances for the Viola this term and is likely to leave the club for a huge fee in the summer if the Florence outfit fail to secure European football.

Jovetic would cost the Gunners far more than the club record £15m they paid for Andrei Arshavin but he has the versatility to play in a number of positions and is a proven top-level goalscorer.