2 years younger, similar attributes and no where close to Bentekes achievements so far.

True but I am sure Wenger would like a good mix up front. In an ideal world we would be buying Benteke and Higuain both. Sanogo was available on a free though.

I don't think buying Benteke and Higuain makes any sense unless you are going to play 2 up top. We are not going to break our transfer record to sign a back up player anyway. One of those 2 plus someone like Jovetic to play deeper with them is a better idea.

Yep, one of Higgy/Benteke/Suarez to lead the line, and Rooney/Jovetic to play in the hole would be awesome.

I don't believe we're interested in Benteke.

I base that solely on the seeming likelihood that his lifetime market value is going to peak in about one week.

Irish gunner wrote:

Yep, one of Higgy/Benteke/Suarez to lead the line, and Rooney/Jovetic to play in the hole would be awesome.

Side issue but Suarez isn't really a lead the line player IMO.

qs! wrote:
Irish gunner wrote:

Yep, one of Higgy/Benteke/Suarez to lead the line, and Rooney/Jovetic to play in the hole would be awesome.

Side issue but Suarez isn't really a lead the line player IMO.

Would you play him behind the striker then? (in the highly unlikely scenario where we sign him).

He lead the line this year (I think) and had his best season so far.

He lead the line for the first half of the season and then mostly played behind Sturridge after January. I thought he was excellent in both positions.

Yeah I'd play him behind the striker if we had a Higuain or Benteke. If we still had Giroud I'd probably just play him up top. He's devastating with a bit more room in front of him though. Thats where I'd prefer him.

All that said I don't want him and I don't think we're in for him at all.

Benteke is more Spuds bound than us

With the Villa deal dead I wouldn't be surprised at all if it was Spurs who are in for him.

he may be quite underwhelming for many fans after the names we have been linked to, but i would love him here..he wasnt only scoring goals regularly, his general play was fantastic too, he is top class material and i would be worried if he came to spurs

Not only is he better with his feet compared to Giroud he's also much stronger in the air. He'd be a huge upgrade imo and with a lot of room for improvement as well. I'd take him in a heart beat.

frusciante wrote:

he may be quite underwhelming for many fans after the names we have been linked to, but i would love him here..he wasnt only scoring goals regularly, his general play was fantastic too, he is top class material and i would be worried if he came to spurs

Way over the top. If his general play is 'fantastic', what does that make Rooney or Suarez?

His general play is ok, good enough for a goalscorer.

He's not 'top class' yet either, could become top class but he's got a long way to go. In the live games I've watched him in he's not been menacing enough over 90 mins.

People often point to players scoring at bottom half sides as a sign that they'd only improve at a top side. But that's not necessarily the case, how's he going to cope in a team that's on the front foot as opposed to a team that's used to countering?

I think he'd be a definite improvement over Giroud, but he'd still be a massive gamble if we're choosing him to be our main man up top.

Benteke can still go down the Carroll route. Think most teams are reluctant to pay what Villa will most probably want for him at this stage.

Agent seems to be suggesting its not Chelsea interested.

Belgian journo on Talksport reckons Benteke is pretty twonk. Says not good enough yet for a top 6 team, performances for national team been poor, good striker for kick and rush. Avoid!

Yet he has been called up into their national team? I smell "agenda", with that journo, especially as his reputation back there must be in tatters after forcing through his previous moves. I think Wenger will avoid, anyways, as he, supposedly, is a stickler for contracts.
I would rather judge him on what i have seen him do at Villa and stuff like this article
http://outsideoftheboot.com/2013/06/21/christian-benteke-scout-report/