Written by Tony Merakli
A number of reports are suggesting that Arsene Wenger is ready to smash the clubs transfer record this January by making a £25 million swoop for frozen-out Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema…surely he is a must this winter?
Wenger has already stated earlier in the week that he does not intend to spend a penny this January. However, indecisive performances by Nicklas Bendtner, persistent injuries to Robin Van Persie, and Marouane Chamakh finding it difficult to adapt to the hardship of the Premier League, should at least have the Frenchman considering the option of buying the Real man this winter.
Benzema has stated in the past that he is willing to fight for a place in the starting line-up, but some may say it’s a lost cause, and that the striker should look for another club at the earliest opportunity.
The Arsenal boss is a huge admirer of the 22-year-old and has been linked with the French superstar in the past, before he made his £30 million (rising to £41 million based on incentives) switch to the Galacticos in 2009. However, Benzema continues to struggle in Spain and spends most of his time warming the bench. In fairness, the striker has been getting a few games lately due to Gonzalo Higuain being injured. The Argentinean has been ruled out for 2 months, so this could be Benzema’s chance to finally shine. However, the powerful striker must produce consistently and prove his worth to the team for this duration otherwise Jose Mourinho will more than likely offload him. So far in his Real Madrid career, the French international has made a total of 51 appearances (in all competitions) and found the net 12 times, an unbelievably poor contrast from his days at Lyon.
Wenger is not one to splash the cash in the market. In fact, the most he has ever spent as Arsenal manager was £10.5 million in 2004 for Jose Antonio Reyes. The transfer fee eventually rose to £17 million due to bonuses and incentives, and to this day stands as the clubs record transfer.
I would love to see Benzema at Arsenal. However, I can’t agree with you’re statement that Chamakh is finding it hard to adapt. He is one the Premier League’s in form strikers; 10 goals already this season. He is definitely not having any trouble settling in and has become our first choice striker.
he’s said he won’t sign anyone in january.
Arsenal only need an ian wright, a player whose only purpose is to score goals. jermain defoe would of been perfect. How we allowed him to go back to tottenham God only knows. Who knows even huntelaar may of worked. I aint saying Benzema is not a good choice, at Lyon he was the leagues top scorer many times. And my theory is that if your tearing it up in ligue 1 you can tear it up in the premier league. Drogba,Nasri,Ben Arfa,Chamkh,Essien just to name a few have excelled in the premiership after plying their trade in france.
Correction: the most that Wenger has spent to bring in a player was reported to be the approximately 20 million spent for Arshavin.
Wenger may bring in a front man, although it’s possible that he may see Jay Emmanuel-Thomas developing into that role soon, but it’s hardly likely that he will spend the kind of cash needed to acquire Benzema on one player with the club having other needs.
If Wenger can convince their father to let them come to Arsenal, Romelu Lukaku and his brother, together, would probably cost less than Benzema and Lukaku, at 19, is already showing the qualities of a young Drogba–a target man who can hold up the ball, pass and finish, with the strength to worry defenses whenever he touches the ball. If Lukaku joins January arrivals Wellington Silva and Ryo Miyachi, Arsenal would have a potentially dazzling trio up front for years.
Further, Benzema’s 12 goals in 51 appearances since joining Real Madrid raises the question of how “clinical” a finisher he really is when faced with better opposition. As Chamakh has discovered, the EPL is a much tougher, more physical league than perhaps any in the world.
Bendtner may be an egotist who believes that he is better than any striker on the team–what true striker isn’t and doesn’t believe that and that he would score more if he only played more, got better service, etc.?–but he is still young and, with room to improve, developing, despite the injury setbacks he has suffered. Given that Bendtner is already accustomed to the rough-and-tumble of the EPL, Wenger is hardly likely to give up on Bendtner in favor of a more expensive player who hasn’t proven that he can be any better than Bendtner in the EPL.
Wenger won’t trade one “prima donna” for a more expensive “prima donna” unless he absolutely has to–and he is more likely to try to convince Bendtner that he has to keep improving and “fight for his place in the squad” than splash a lot of cash for Benzema. Lukaku, with his physical attributes, etc., might be a different story–might. After spending a ton of money to bring young talents to the club, don’t expect Wenger to give up on them easily or without giving them a chance–especially not when doing that would cost the club the kind of money that it could use to shore up two weak spots or bring in one “about to blossom” talent and a good young talent to develop.
stopped reading at “Marouane Chamakh finding it difficult to adapt to the hardship of the Premier League”
he’s the closest thing we’ve had to a 20 goal a season striker since thierry left.
how was chamakh found it hard to adapt, i think hes done a quality job so far
i think 30m is too much for benzema…i would love to see 1 solid defender and 1 good goal keeper with 30m..
no chance, Wenger would never spend that kind of money.
We dont need strikers, we need defenders and a keeper
And tell me why you think Chamakh is struggling to adapt to the Premier League?
Chamakh is “finding it difficult to adapt to the hardship of the Premier League”?
Have you been watching the games this season? Everyone else seems to think he’s adapting surprisingly quickly and he’s scoring a goal every other game in the PL. While I don’t dispute some of your other points, this one is just nonsense.
As a United fan, I’d be delighted if Wenger went and signed another striker, because it’d mean they were overlooking the real weak area of their pitch.
Fabianski seems to have settled down, but he’s not top bracket. The defence is a bit of a shambles – the only one I rate is Sagna. Vermaelen too, but he’s had real fitness worries.
Is Wenger capable of picking out quality defensive players though? The jury’s out…
Listen guys I appreciate the comments but I have never said once that Chamakh was crap or could not bag us goals. I think he is doing a good job for the club so far, however his physique is testament to my comment.
Even in this Daily Mail article, the player himself has voiced that he is finding it hard to cope in the Prem.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1334029/Arsenals-Marouane-Chamakh-says-Premier-League-leaving-battered-bruised.html
Look i think we have a very good team at the moment, yes shaky at the back. We need 1 more defender, and need vermalin back. Our yound polish keeper is a good prospect and with these 2 new young stars coming, Ryo Miyauchi and Wellington Silva, our future looks great. This Ryo miyauchi looks superb he rearly does, bring the title home boys ??????
lol I think as a arsenal fan you should know by know how wenger does business deal in transfer seasons. Many big names were previously linked to arsenal for many many years, but have the deal succeeded? not even close. Wenger prefers to buy a raw talent and convert him to a pure world class footballer. and I belive it is the right way of doing thing in football. I mean What is real madrid without billions of bank loan monies? What is Man city with out money? what is chelsea with out money? Have they ever done something for football other than breaking transfer record? Nop. What i mean is Football clubs should be judged according to their footballing values, norms and belifs. When we look at clubs like Arsenal, Bacrelona, even Man utd. we are perfect example to other clubs and players that we represent what football should be, not just in the pitch but also out side it. and that is something to be very proud of and something which money can’t buy in 1 day. It needs patitent and hard work.