Arsenal: Worst idea of summer award goes to Karim Benzema

It used to be a good idea to pursue Karim Benzema, but now Arsenal’s worst idea of the summer falls on the Frenchman. Keep him away.

Arsenal are forever linked to Karim Benzema and this summer looks to be no different. Going back to the early parts of 2017 he was already being linked to a move away from Real Madrid. The simple fact is that he is being phased out for younger, probably more talented strikers and he needs a new backdrop to look at.

He should look elsewhere. There was a time where I was out of my mind excited because it seemed like Benzema was coming to the Emirates, but that time has passed, and it passed quickly.

It also passed hard, because once that excitement was over, I would have given anything to avoid him coming to my club.

Benzema has had himself a fun time while at Real Madrid, but having hit the top, my major concern with him has always been motivation. What happens if he doesn’t cut it over here and has to fight for a spot? Because that is bound to happen. Will he even bother?

Maybe be would, who knows. But that isn’t the only factor going into this assessment. I still get hung up on his rather negative behavior with the French National team, which has gotten him removed from the club.

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This, in turn, allowed Olivier Giroud free reign to the starting role and, guess what? The big man is just as good, if not better. Statistically, he is better, as he has scored more goals in less time than Benzema. So why would we take the striker that Giroud has successfully replaced on the national team? That makes very little sense.

Benzema will find a good home, I have no doubts. I just don’t want it to be at Arsenal. With strikers out there like Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, both of whom have said they want to prove themselves at the next level, who needs Benzema, who always says that Real Madrid is the pinnacle of football? The top of the food chain.

Not only that, but Benzema would figure to cost in the same ballpark as those two. So where does the upside lie? In the fact that he has played with Mesut Ozil before?

I used to like the idea of Benzema and Giroud together because of their friendly rivalry, but now that rivalry is more existent in Giroud and Lacazette, who both play for their countries instead of Benzema.

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I’ve said before that I believe Arsene Wenger to be too smart to sign Benzema and I still stand by that. Linking him to Arsenal has to be the worst idea so far this summer.

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