Gunners keen to pip rivals to Atletico star.
Arsenal are being linked with a move for Liverpool and Chelsea target Diego Costa, who plays for Atletico Madrid in La Liga, reports The Daily Star.
The Brazilian would likely command an astronomical transfer fee due to his brilliant form, but Wenger has still released some comments lavishing praise on the 25-year-old.
“He had already grabbed my attention last year through his determination, his strength to move forward,” Wenger said.
“He also possesses technical quality and a cool head when carrying out his finishing touches.
“For a long time, he was loaned out because he couldn’t find his place. But over the last two seasons he has really moved up a notch.
“There is something animal in his determination, in his hunger. You can feel that he is a player who, before arriving at a very high level, has fed his thirst and his hunger.”
Diego Costa’s strengths and attributes:
One of Costa’s main strengths, is in fact his brutish strength. At 6 ft. 2″ and 13 and a half stone, he is a physical specimen not be messed with, but it’s his ferocious on pitch attitude that makes him such a handful for defenders.
Costa bites and harries defenders for the entire 90 minutes, and he is happy to take it to the extreme to win matches. While this hasn’t won him many fans among neutrals, he’s a real fan favourite in Madrid, and his style would no doubt please Premier League audiences.
He’s proving this season that he’s a very good finisher, and he loves an aerial battle. Costa also draws fouls, but commits his fair share, too.
Where he’d fit into Arsenal’s lineup:
Costa has flourished this season as a central striker, and would ideally be suited to this role in place of Olivier Giroud. While Arsenal’s French forward is having his best season, Costa would add a more dynamic, and ruthless option up top. Neither striker would suit playing in a 4-4-2 together, and this would mean Arsene Wenger would have to drop one of his outstanding attacking midfielders anyway.
If Costa were to arrive, it would seemingly be at the expense of Giroud.
Costa’s vital statistics:
This season, their sublime. The striker’s bagged 15 goals already. Only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more. Liverpool bid £20m for him in the summer, but following his start to 2013/14, his value has likely doubled already.
Costa’s season highlights:
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