There are a few clubs around that Arsenal would really prefer not to have to go up against in a transfer battle this summer. Big foreign clubs like Barcelona, Bayern Munich and PSG are a few, even though the massive money from the latest TV rights deal gives clubs in England a big advantage but we lose even that advantage against our Premier League rivals.
So even without the relaxing of the FFP rules, Arsene Wenger is still likely to have a smaller transfer budget than our big Premier League rivals and with Chelsea and the Manchester clubs also able to offer the lure of Champions League football, our manager will be hoping that his transfer targets are not the same.
If the Arsenal transfer rumours linking us with the Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema are true, however, then Wenger is going to have to find some leverage other than money because The Guardian is reporting that moneybags Man United are after him as well. And they might even want to include Benzema in the transfer of their keeper David De Gea to the Spanish La Liga giants so you can see we have a problem.
The only way I can see the Gunners beating United to Benzema is if the player himself chooses us over them. Being based in London is one advantage but we also have that French connection that has seen a string of Wenger´s compatriots playing in the red and white since he took over as manager.
Right now we have three regular France internationals in Koscielny, Giroud and Debuchy, while Flamini, Sanogo, Coquelin and Diaby would make Benzema feel at home. But will this and Wenger´s reputation be enough against the financial behemoth that is Man United?