Arsenal will take a very, very good player…

Every transfer window comes with the usual script for Arsenal. There will be calls for signing a new goalkeeper, a new defensive midfielder and a striker. The script remains the same because more often than not, Arsene Wenger doesn’t generally buy for the position deemed as requirement.

Of course, it is not pragmatic to link the aspirations of the supporters to the real requirements. But, there is a common ground which is what everyone agrees for reinforcements. We are talking about signing a striker who can take the club to the new club.

Most of the supporters would have been perplexed by now with the amount of talk around a new striker. As usual, the latest rumours decide to link Karim Benzema once again with the Gunners. Wenger tried his best to secure Benzema earlier in his career and was rebuffed every time.

The Frenchman is an important player for the La Liga giants and Wenger knows very well that it would take a monumental effort to lure the striker from Madrid. Though the striker will not get his preferred central position under new manager Rafael Benitez, there is no guarantee that he would move to Premier League.

The same view is put forth by his former team-mate at Real Madrid, Kaka. The Brazilian playmaker is now plying his trade at Orlando City in the MLS. He feels that Benzema is one of the best strikers in the world.

“I think Benzema is one of the best forwards at this moment so I don’t think Real Madrid will give him easily”

Kaka may be true with his assessment but he also went on to add that if he can have the opportunity to come to Arsenal, it would be very good for the club. These statements come in the wake of the recent reports linking the Gunners with a record move for the forward.

“But Karim Benzema is a very good player and if he can have the opportunity to go to Arsenal then Arsenal will take a very, very good player.”

Speculation continues to link the forward to the Emirates and an imminent bid from Wenger. An interesting twist to the entire script is the reported injury that Benzema suffered in the pre-season. How long will he be out of action is a difficult but important question to tackle before any bidding goes forward, but it is clear that Arsenal need Benzema, or at least a similar player if we really have title aspirations….

Sridhar