Pain in the Arsenal
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Karim Benzema to Arsenal a Long Way Off But Still in the Making

By Josh Sippie

Aug 1, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema (left) scores a goal in the second half against the Los Angeles Galaxy during a friendly match at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Real Madrid defeated the Galaxy 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 1, 2013; Glendale, AZ, USA; Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema (left) scores a goal in the second half against the Los Angeles Galaxy during a friendly match at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Real Madrid defeated the Galaxy 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Karim Benzema’s potential move to Arsenal has gone through flaming hoops and then some and there is still very little concrete news on whether or not the deal is any closer to being completed or if Arsenal are even in the market for an upgrade at the striker position.

One thing is certain, Arsene Wenger will buy a good player when they are available. Karim Benzema may find himself in the category of ‘available’ before too much longer.

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With Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez changing up Los Blancos formation and giving the sole striker role to Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema is potentially out of a spot. However, he would not exactly know the magnitude of such a move given that they have not played a match yet.

The Telegraph is therefore reporting that Arsene Wenger will wait out Real Madrid and wait for Benzema to realize that he is not going to overtake the man that is Ronaldo.

While Karim Benzema has insisted that he would like to stay and play at Real Madrid, and reports indicate that he told Arsene Wenger that very thing over the phone, it may come down to a matter of being second fiddle at Real Madrid or being a superstar yet again, but this time at Arsenal.

I firmly believe that Olivier Giroud is a perfectly good enough striker to take Arsenal to the top of the Premier League. However, that does not mean that there are not strikers out there that are better. Take our goalie situation for instance. I was also firmly of the belief that David Ospina was going to be enough to get Arsenal to the top of the Premier League, but does that mean that Petr Cech is not welcome? Not at all. He is an upgrade, albeit one we may not have needed.

This is a time when Arsenal are in great position to make a serious run at the title. Years of patience and signings have paid off and Arsenal have all they need. But these ‘unnecessary’ upgrades can be the difference between a late title push and a late season flat lining. When we need that extra striking option late in the season when Olivier Giroud is having confidence problems and Theo Walcott has a niggling injury, who would we rather have to turn to, Danny Welbeck or Karim Benzema?

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The biggest proponent for Karim Benzema is his rapport with Olivier Giroud. I cannot overemphasize how much I do not want to see Giroud’s confidence shattered by a new striker arrival. Jackson Martinez would have shattered that confidence. Alexandre Lacazette may or may not, depending on how much that French connection stands up.

But Giroud and Benzema have spoken to the media about how they compete against each other and drive each other for the French National team.

Normally I go out of my way to rubbish absurd rumors if they appear too absurd. There was a time when I thought that Karim Benzema was an absurd rumor but I do not think that he is so absurd anymore.

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