Arsene Wenger’s search for a striker landed him Lucas Perez in the previous summer but the Spaniard has just not been able to cement his place in the first team this season. This has left the manager still in search of a genuine goal scorer at the end of the current season. Arsenal are yet again linked with a number of star strikers who could be on the move this summer but the latest name that is doing the rounds is Real Madrid star Karim Benzema.
The French international is one of the top goal scorers for Real Madrid in the history of their club but Zinedine Zidane is adamant on a squad overhaul this summer and might let the Frenchman leave at the end of the season. But should Arsenal spend on him?
Born and brought up in France, Lyon, Benzema moved to the La Liga back in 2009 and has already made more than 230 appearances for the Spanish giants. He has 119 goals to his name, which is one of the best returns for a striker in this time and is widely regarded as one of the most prolific goal scorers in Europe at the moment.
In 36 outings in all competitions this season, Benzema has 16 goals and seven assists to his name and stands as one of the top goal scorers in Europe. However, Zidane wants to bring a younger name to the fore and is ready to let him go this summer.
Known for his strength and ability to hold the ball in dangerous areas, Benzema is probably one of the best finishers around in world football at the moment. He loves to play short passes in the final third to find some space for himself and though he is adept at scoring plenty of goals, he is also deceptively adept at setting up goals for his teammates.
He is not the quickest but is quick enough to be a threat on the counter. And having played for almost eight years alongside some of the best players in Europe, he has only gone on to become better in these years.
The Gunners have the likes of Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck and Lucas Perez in their armour for the striker’s position but none of them have been able to cement a place in the first team, leaving Alexis Sanchez to play as a false-9.
The Chilean has been extraordinary in this role but Wenger and Arsenal will surely have to add a target man to their line up and are convinced that Benzema is the right man. But at 29, the French international is a risk not worth taking.
Though he can score goals at will, Benzema is not the agilest player around and is one that can disrupt Arsenal’s flow in attack. He is a target man and can add variety to the squad while his passing will also be an asset but his movement, especially against teams that sit back and defend, can be a liability for the Gunners next season.
He may yet be capable of scoring 20+ goals a season, even at the Emirates but at 29, he is not going to do that for long and is not a player Wenger needs at the moment. While the striking trio already at the club will be trying to prove themselves, there is a danger that Benzema can rest on his laurels, which is also not a good sign for the club. So from the outside, Karim Benzema is just not the right man for Arsenal this summer.
