Problem is the only other viable top option might be Balotelli. Someone who probably has more talent but his mentality raises some serious question marks. Since C.Ronaldo has been at R.Madrid all the players around him have had to play second fiddle. There is more to Benzema than we have seen, I do believe he could be a better player under the right system. His ability to link with other players is already superb but he can become a better goal scorer. There are questions about mentality as well but if he was in a team where he is seen as a more important player he could overcome that. Also these quotes from Wenger yesterday:

@YoannArsenal

Wenger on French TV #CLFinal : "Karim could play his last game for Real Madrid today, I'm sure he'll play in PL one day."

Might be dropping a subtle hint there?

qs! wrote:

I really want Benzema. Unfortunately CL winners rarely sell their main CF.

They will if they get a replacement in. He is going into his last year on his contract and they won't let him go for free next year IMO.

interedasting words from wenger. iffy mentality aside id be ok with signing him

Really hope they ditch him after yesterday's poor game like how they ditched Makelele after winning the last UCL.

He is clearly just a sideman in Madrid. Ronaldo and Bale are the finishers. I hope he sees its best if he comes to Arsenal this summer. Wenger will build our attack around him, we have an excellent midfield to provide him with loads of chances each game. He will flourish here.

Oh and Karim, take Sami with you

Le professeur wrote:

I'm seeing people saying they don't want him. foolish -- he's world class and scores around 30 goals most seasons

His goalscoring record is comparable to Giroud.

Get Benzema in early whilst he poor performance is fresh in Perez's mind. Then get Balotelli as well.

otfgoon wrote:

Le professeur wrote:

I'm seeing people saying they don't want him. foolish -- he's world class and scores around 30 goals most seasons

His goalscoring record is comparable to Giroud.

For obvious reasons though.

It's important to keep in mind that Benzema was injured/unfit yesterday. He's had a very good season overall.

Pretty obvious to me that Benzema is Wenger's number one target given his longtime interest, those rumors in the Telegraph, and that little teaser quote Wenger dropped on TV yesterday. Costa is going to Chelsea and Cavani is staying in Paris (for now). Dzeko is staying at City. I'd have Benz over Balotelli/Mandzukic and I'd guess most of this forum would too.

what did wenger say?
He's my top choice, ahead of Costa, Cavani etc..

"Karim could play his last game for Real Madrid today, I'm sure he'll play in PL one day."

innervisionscm wrote:

"Karim could play his last game for Real Madrid today, I'm sure he'll play in PL one day."

Fake, apparently.

FWIW, I think Suarez is our number one target. Benzema would be still be a super signing though.

No way will we go back in for Suarez.

We'll see.

chances of suarez coming here are virtually nil.

benzema looked old and fat, don't want.

Well if Suarez is our number one target then we may as well bang our heads repeatedly off walls for the summer.
We wouldn't pay more than 40m for him last summer, Liverpool would probably want 50m plus this summer and now that they've got CL football there's nothing extra we can offer him apart from more money....
If we actually were willing to go the whole hog we might stand a chance, we won't though so I'd prefer we used our time and energy more wisely.

Look at the long game Yva, sure we might sacrifice the whole summer landing Suarez but he'd catapult us into clear title contenders for real. Imagine him and Giroud rotating to manage tiredness...or unleashing Suarioud! Yes this may leave us short if we don't spend in other areas. But I'd happily trade one superstar for 3 good players. You can get "good" players every summer.

Kurtz my point was that we won't sign him because Liverpool will not sell to us for the kind of money we're likely to be offering, and Suarez will not want to come here because of the wages we're likely to be offering.
So we either decide to match what the likes of Real would offer for him and to him or we don't waste our time.

Anyway, Benzema.
I'm still not convinced that he'd give us the best that he can give