Despite losing to Manchester United on Sunday, Arsenal still remain top of the Premier League.
Their best start to a league season in six years would have pleased every Gooner, as they try and end their nine-season trophy drought, despite losing their first league game since August.
However, Arsenal’s lack of strikers can really hamper their title challenge for the season, and with Olivier Giroud being the club’s only reliable attacking option; the Gunners need to sign a world class striker in January to help maintain their title challenge. This is why the table toppers are being linked with Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema again.
Benzema is undoubtedly a fantastic striker as he has shown many fans what he is capable of when playing for France and Real Madrid. His strong, powerful and aggressive nature will be a huge asset for any team fighting for the championship, and it’s no surprise that Arsenal have been vying for Benzema’s signature since the summer of 2011.
However, will the signing of Benzema be the main solution (along with Olivier Giroud) to get Arsenal their goals this season? Or, will the potential signing of the Frenchman simply be a way of trying to get the best out of Mesut Ozil, so that the German can provide more assists and goals for his Arsenal teammates?
Ozil and Benzema spent three years at Real Madrid together, where the duo scored an amazing 105 goals between them in all competitions, before Ozil’s switch to Arsenal this September. The impressive goal tally helped Los Blanco win three trophies in that time which included one La Liga title.
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But despite being a world class player, Ozil’s performance at Old Trafford on Sunday looked anything but. The German looked fatigued and out of his depth when facing the wall of Phil Jones and Jonny Evans, who continuously shut Arsenal out to earn United an impressive 1-0 victory over their old rivals.
Arsenal’s main striker in Olivier Giroud also looked tired. Despite scoring five goals in 11 appearances so far this season in the league, Giroud is desperate for a partner alongside him to bring home the goals for Arsenal. Even his Arsenal teammate Laurent Koscielny stated that the 28-year-old needs someone alongside him; otherwise their title challenge could fade away.
Karim Benzema’s style of football will suit the Arsenal way. He is a presence in the air which will benefit the crosses coming in from Bacary Sagna, Mesut Ozil and Kieran Gibbs, he can shoot very well from long distances (something which Arsenal have been criticised about over the last few years), and the one thing that impresses me the most about the French striker is his love for the beautiful game.
The 24-year-old is one of the most passionate footballers in the game at this moment. He is one of those strikers who loves to win games and takes defeats personally, but vows to do better in the next game he plays in. This is what the Arsenal fans want to see in their team; a player who plays with their heart on their sleeve, a player who gives 100% every time they put on that famous red and white strip and a player who plays for the fans who visit the Emirates every week.
So the potential signing of Benzema is one of the main solutions to help Arsenal win the title, but, I don’t look at the signing of the French striker to help get the best out of Ozil, as the German doesn’t need anyone to make him look good.
In the games against Stoke, Norwich and Liverpool this season, Ozil has shown that his £42.5million move was worth the money, as he played out of his skin in all of these games – he doesn’t need anyone to get the best out of him – Ozil has got the skill and attitude to do that himself.
The players that Ozil are alongside with in the Arsenal midfield give Arsenal fans that sense of belief that their name could be on a trophy this season. Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Mathieu Flamini are all players who can help the Arsenal front line in Olivier Giroud and hopefully Karim Benzema if a move were to be agreed.
There is a huge amount of excitement in the Arsenal camp, as players and fans believe that this could be their season to win a trophy. And with the players the Gunners have got, it’s just a matter of time before Arsenal lift a cup once more.
Is Benzema the player Arsenal need to win a trophy?
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