EXCLUSIVE: ARSENAL POISED TO OFFER 19M FOR REAL MADRID STRIKER GONZALO HIGUAIN

ABOVE: Gonzalo Higuain is said to be at the top of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's hit-list

I think Theo Walcott really stepped up and proved himself with his goals. Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
23rd May 2013

By David Woods ARSENAL are lining up a 19m bid for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is finally planning to spend big this summer as he looks to rebuild his squad. And Agrentina striker Higuain is at the top of his wanted list. Wenger has been a long-term admirer of the Argentine hitman, who joined the Spanish giants from River Plate in 2007. And Starsport revealed yesterday how incoming Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was plotting to hijack the Gunners bid to sign Fiorentinas 25m-rate forward Stevan Jovetic. That leaves Higuain, 25, as the number one choice and the Gunners are understood to have contacted Real to sound out whether they would be prepared to sell. Arsenal fans have been calling for a star signing and with 70m to spend, it seems Wenger is ready to go for Higuain. Gunners ace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has claimed the club have been HELPED by Robin van Persies departure. Premier League top-scorer Van Persie, 29, left the Emirates for Manchester United last summer after netting 44 times for Wengers side in the 2011-12 campaign. But despite the Dutchmans 26 goals helping Sir Alex Fergusons men reclaim the title, the England star thinks his teammates were too reliant on Van Persie last season. Oxlade-Chamberlain, 19, said: It is always going to be a blow when you lose someone like Robin, who is a world class striker. But from a team point of view, it has helped us massively because no team is about o ne player. This season we have had to find goals from other areas on the pitch. A lot of players have had to step up and take the bull by the horns. I think Theo Walcott really stepped up and proved himself with his goals.