Arsenal could sensationally look to solve their goalscoring woes by securing the signature of Karim Benzema. The forward was linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium back in the day, and Arsene Wenger has already highlighted what the veteran striker could offer.
Mikel Arteta is keen to bolster his forward ranks as soon as possible, with their lack of a marquee No. 9 raising questions about whether they have a squad capable of winning the Premier League title.
The Gunners are scouring the market for options, with proven options like Brentford star Ivan Toney and in-form Bournemouth talisman Dominic Solanke high on their striker shortlist. However, Arteta’s side could be encouraged to look further afield this month due to the availability of Benzema.
The France international joined Saudi side Al Ittihad during the summer transfer window but he has already grown unhappy in the Middle East. According to Marca, Benzema has not returned for his side’s pre-season training camp this year, having missed three sessions before the end of the year, and his absences have consequently seen him fall out of favour under manager Marcelo Gallardo.
As a result, Gallardo has ruled that the ex-Real Madrid star will not travel with the rest of his squad to Dubai for a mid-season camp and he could even be offloaded before the transfer window draws to a close. Benzema’s availability will certainly capture the attention of top clubs around Europe.
Manchester United and Chelsea are among those to have been speculatively linked with the 36-year-old, though it would be no surprise for Arsenal to also consider pursuing the ex-Lyon star, if they were willing to contribute towards his hefty wages. Benzema could be viewed as the final piece of the puzzle at the Emirates Stadium, and acquiring his services could be make or break in the title race.
The striker has performed at the very top level consistently and his experience could be worth its weight in gold when it comes to the last few games of the season. Benzema has been praised heavily throughout his career, and Wenger is among those to have commended the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner.
Speaking in 2021, the ex-Gunners boss said: “He was in competition with [Gonzalo] Higuain for a while [at Real Madrid]. It was Higuain for three games and three games for Benzema. He played the game based on passing and connections, so he was an ideal player up front.
“He’s a striker who makes people around him better and sometimes you have strikers who score goals but they make players around them worse. He’s not one of them. If you put Benzema in the team, I would want to play with him.”
