Wilfried Bony

Arsenal are preparing a summer bid for Swansea striker Wilfried Bony, according to the Daily Mirror.

The Gunners are in the market for a striker and have earmarked the Ivorian as the man to assist Olivier Giroud next season. The striker has scored 25 goals this season and will be a major addition to the Arsenal squad which has been crying out for reinforcements all season. The Gunners led the league for 128 days in the recently concluded campaign, but failed to apply the finishing touch with Giroud unable to live up to expectations and a barrage of injuries to key players stunting their ascendency.

Bony scored 16 goals in the league, including a first half header against the Gunners at the Emirates to secure the Welsh club a point. The Gunners will face competition from Everton, who are looking to bring the striker in as a replacement for Romelu Lukaku, who is unlikely to extend his loan spell with the Toffees, with a lot of other clubs interested in his signature.

The Ivorian has already proved his mettle with Vitesse, where he was named the Dutch Player for the Year after scoring 31 goals in 30 appearances before coming to the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are revelling in their FA Cup win at the new Wembley Stadium, which banished their nine year trophy drought and secured their 11<sup>th win in the competition, more than anyone else in the division. Arsene Wenger secured his fifth FA Cup win, joining Sir Alex Ferguson in among the most successful in England's most prestigious tournament.

The manager praised the team for coming back from a two goal deficit and securing a momentous win for the north London club.

"They looked dangerous on every set piece, we were hesitant and you wonder if the shock for the team will not be too hard. But this team has a special spirit and a special togetherness and I knew they would try to respond. It was important for us to get back to 2-1 before half time, then not to rush our game and keep calm and structured. Overall in the second half we had many chances,"Wenger told www.arsenal.com.

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