As officially confirmed on Wednesday evening, the Premier League's most potent striker of 2014, Wilfried Bony, has completed a £28million move to Manchester City.

And what a talented front-man the reigning English champions will now be luxury to for the next four-and-a-half years. In addition to the Ivory Coast international's superfluously consistent firepower, netting 25 times in 54 league appearances during his time at Swansea City, he boasts unique ingenuity and technical quality for a striker so physically imposing; an eclectically-assembled, complete centre-forward, almost purpose-built for the combative nature of Premier League football and the ever-increasing demand for skilful players.

Which makes you wonder how Bony was allowed to slip through the nets of Arsenal and Liverpool during the summer - two clubs in far greater need of such an intimidating, robust front-man, who have just enjoyed the most expensive transfer windows in their respective histories. Incredibly, both could have signed the Ivorian for just £19million during the summer, due to a release clause.

Of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing and admittedly, Bony seems like twice the player he was at the end of last season. It's the development of the technical side of his game I've found most impressive this term, linking up with Gylfi Sigurdsson to create a number of well-worked, aesthetically pleasing and, on occasion, completely unstoppable goals. Perhaps if Arsenal or Liverpool had known in advance the improvement the 26 year-old would go on to show in that regard, their rumoured summer interest would have materialised into something more genuine.

Yet, signs of the Swans forward's progression were evident enough last season, at least in goal-scoring terms, bagging eleven goals in the latter half of the 2013/14 campaign compared to a rather unspectacular five prior. One could see a future Premier League star in the making - albeit, still rough around the edges - and following on from last term, Bony's form was only going to move in one direction.  Now however, Manchester City have picked up the finished article for a rather reasonable fee in comparison to some of the deals in recent Premier League history.

Arsenal fans won't be too disappointed with their alternatives. Alexis Sanchez has emerged as one of the top stars in the English top flight since arriving at the Emirates for £35million in July, amassing an incredible twelve goals and seven assists in his first 19 Premier League appearances, whilst £16million acquisition Danny Welbeck has chipped in with seven goals and two assists across all competitions - including a hat-trick against Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Yet, in my opinion, the Gunners have been calling out for a Bony-type for years - a similar mould to Olivier Giroud, but more willing to intimidate defenders with his power and brawn, adding a more gritty,  physical dimension to their forward line. A view not shared by all but certainly mine personally, the former Swansea star would be an improvement on the French international - or at the very least, challenge a more consistent level of performance from him.

In regards to Liverpool, however, I can't be so forgiving. For £1million less than the price of Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert combined, two strikers netting just once between them in the Premier League this term, Liverpool could've landed the division's most in-form striker, a virtual guarantor of goals when compared to the Reds' current rabble.

Would Bony have made a huge difference to their turbulent campaign? One can only speculate, but it's likely he'd be enjoying a more consistent vein of form right now. Brendan Rodgers is believed to have made a £12million bid during the summer, but didn't view the extra £7million required as a worthwhile sum.

Of course, it's an acquisition that would have come with some risk - we've witnessed one-season wonders in the Premier League before, ranging from Ipswich Town's Marcus Stewart to Swansea's Michu - which explains why Manchester City waited to assemble another six months' worth of evidence on the striker before making such a lucrative move.

Did the African assassin pose more risk than a 32 year-old Lambert however, who had never plied his trade in the Champions League before? Or Mario Balotelli? Undoubtedly the riskiest acquisition Liverpool have made since their £35million move for Andy Carroll in 2011. Or Danny Welbeck, a winger-wannabe-front-man with just twenty goals from 90 appearances during his six years with Manchester United?

In my opinion, no, and Liverpool and Arsenal's failure to act, despite their well-known interest, has paved the way for Manchester City to sign one of the best strikers the Premier League currently has to offer. Perhaps the unseen risk all along was not signing Bony, allowing him to strengthen a direct divisional rival.

The Gunners will witness what they missed out on first-hand this Sunday, as they travel to the Etihad.