Arsenal: Karim Benzema Ship Has Long Sailed

Arsenal are once again being linked with a move for Karim Benzema. However, the positives for signing the Real Madrid have long sailed by.

Ever since the controversial departure of Robin van Persie in the summer of 2012, Arsenal have been lacking a world class striker. While Olivier Giroud, the man who was signed in the summer to eventually replace van Persie as the spearhead of the attack, has a set of very unique qualities, he lacks the consistent goalscoring nous and mobility to ever be considered an elite level centre-forward.

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Since van Persie’s departure, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Leicester City and now either Chelsea or Tottenham Hotspur have won the league title. What is one thing they all have in common? For that one season, they had a top quality goalscorer. United with van Persie, City with Sergio Aguero,  Chelsea with Diego Costa, Leicester with Jamie Vardy and Spurs with Harry Kane.

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This is not to say that Giroud is a lacking player. He is a very good striker that, if tailored to correctly, has the aerial ability to be very successful leading the line. But he will never be the same calibre player as a van Persie, an Aguero, Costa or Kane.

And Arsene Wenger is aware of his shortcomings. Last summer, Vardy rejected his advances, Lyon rejected a £29 million bid for Alexandre Lacazette and he eventually settled for Lucas Perez late in the transfer window. The position, though, and this is especially true if Alexis Sanchez does indeed leave at the end of the season with his contract quickly expiring as is expected, is still a major shortcoming of the squad and is need of addressing.

And so, we come to age old Karim Benzema rumours. It seems like it is an annual ritual during which Arsenal will be linked with a move for Benzema. That is once again true, as Don Balon claim that the Gunners see the 29-year-old as the ideal replacement for Sanchez as the attacking catalyst.

Unfortunately, though, the Benzema shipped has long sailed. There are a plethora of other strikers on the market who are as talented as Benzema and are at a far more advantageous age. The aforementioned Lacazette is one. Andrea Belotti is another, as is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

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Although Arsenal may still need a striker, Benzema is no longer the satisfaction of that need. Unfortunately for him, the North London ship has long sailed and Wenger would be far better served looking elsewhere.