Arsenal have long been in need of a prolific striker to score the goals to ensure that they make a sustained push for a Premier League title.
According to the Metro, they may well be on the brink of finally solving their problem as they have tabled a £31.3m bid for Real Madrid star Karim Benzema.
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The French international has been a consistent source of goals for the Spanish giants, finding the back of the net on 20 or more occasions in all competitions in the last five seasons at the Bernabeu.
Given that he has largely had to play a secondary, and sometimes tertiary, role behind the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, his tallies could have much more impressive had he had a more prominent ranking in their attacking pecking order.
Nevertheless, he has played the role that he has been given with great success, but his all-round game would undoubtedly make him a perfect fit for the Gunners.
Still only 27 years of age and arguably reaching the peak of his career, Benzema has the movement, pace and cleverness to seamlessly fit into the Arsenal system and give Arsene Wenger exactly what he needs.
It is no coincidence that the Frenchman’s name has been mentioned countless times over the years when discussing Arsenal transfer business – as the Metro point out – but it remains to be seen if this summer is any different to those previous.
However, what is certain is that having Benzema in his squad would be a huge boost for Wenger as he could use him in several different ways.
His options include playing him alongside Olivier Giroud in a two-man attack when the scenario or opposition call for it, and the countrymen would potentially relish the chance to play together.
Benzema has also been deployed on the wing, particularly on the left flank as he has the ability to beat his marker outside for pace or cut in on to his favoured right foot.
For all his versatility, the Madrid ace would work most effectively spearheading the Arsenal attack as their focal point.
His ability to run the channels and assist his teammates would allow the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez to break forward around him and have countless goal-scoring opportunities.
Furthermore, his pace would give Arsenal a different dynamic as far as having an option of playing balls over the top and stretching opposition defences.
Benzema’s touch, skill and all-round ability to link up play will see him flourish ahead of Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere et al, but it is his natural finishing ability that makes him so dangerous.
When presented with a chance, more often than not, Benzema will find the back of the net.
With such creative players around him, he wouldn’t be short of opportunities and, with the Frenchman finishing off all that impressive build-up play, the Gunners could well march on towards a league title, despite finishing 12 points behind Chelsea in the 2014-15 campaign.
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