Arsenal Transfer Rumour: Gunners Table Offer for Spanish Forward

Arsenal have tabled a £10m bid for Atletico Madrid forward Adrian Lopez, according to Goal.com.

The 24-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at the Vicente Calderon this season, managing just six La Liga starts so far, with manager Diego Simeone understandably preferring South American hitman Radamel Falcao, ahead of the Spanish international, to lead his attack.

The Gunners have been linked with a move for Adrian for some time now and Goal.com's report indicates the north London outfit have submitted a formal offer for the forward, whose contract contains a £14.7m release clause. The report also adds Arsenal have been in talks with Atletico, regarding the Spaniard's situation, from before Christmas.

Arsene Wenger has also been linked with moves for Barcelona's David Villa and Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente, both of whom are out-of-favour at their respective clubs. However, Wenger feels the younger Lopez will be a better option than the aging La Roja internationals.

Chamberlain: Walcott is a Natural Striker

Meanwhile, Arsenal youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain insists team-mate and compatriot Theo Walcott is a natural centre-forward.

Walcott, whose contract runs out in the summer, wants to lead the attack for the Gunners on a regular basis, after spending the majority of his career at the Emirates on the flanks. The 23-year-old scored a hat-trick in the 7-3 win over Newcastle United over the weekend and Oxlade-Chamberlain feels the England international has produced all the necessary attributes of a top-class centre forward.

"He definitely has all the attributes to play up front. The goals are coming. He has proven he can do a really good job for us up there. For someone with his pace it's hard for anyone to defend against and when he gets the service he can always punish teams so he's doing really well. His performance was amazing. You could see after his first goal he had a spring in his step but he has been like that all season. He has been brilliant," the 19-year-old told ESPN.