So now we can finally stop being bombarded by Arsenal transfer rumours linking us with a summer swoop for Karim Benzema. To be honest the stories were getting ridiculous, with so-called experts claiming the deal was done and that private jets had been booked to bring him from Madrid and other such malarkey.
While a lot of Arsenal fans, including me, will be disappointed that we did not sign this quality striker, the situation is not a complete disaster, although it may seem all doom and gloom after the Gunners failed to score at home again.
For one thing, at least we and Arsene Wenger know that the deal is not possible with a week still left in the transfer market. So if the manager does decide that he needs more fire power in the Arsenal squad, there is time for him to do something. Every year a great proportion of transfer deals are done in the last few days so there is still hope that one or two new faces may arrive at the club in the next few days.
And one more thing to cheer you up and perhaps surprise you Arsenal fans. A Metro report reveals that a stat comparison actually shows that Olivier Giroud is just as potent a striker as the Real Madrid centre forward. The Arsenal man has 42 goals from his 99 Premier League games, while Benzema has 43 goals from his last 94 games.
While Benzema’s strike rate is slightly better there, we must remember that he gets many more chances with the likes of Ronaldo around him in Madrid, and it seems clear that goals are a little easier to come by in La Liga. Even without the comparison, Giroud’s scoring stats are pretty impressive and that is not the be all and end all of what he offers the team.
So forget Benzema, get behind Giroud and hope that Wenger uses the next six days wisely.