Karim Benzema Is Critical Target for Arsenal in Final Stages of Transfer Window

Arsene Wenger spent the entire offseason seeking a star striker to headline the Arsenal attack. Efforts to land Gonzalo Higuain, Luis Suarez or Wayne Rooney have all come up short, leaving the veteran manager with very little time to fill the void.

With the new campaign underway and the transfer window set to close in less than two weeks, Wenger's chances of adding a marquee player are quickly fading. That's why the latest pursuit, of Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, is crucial for Arsenal.

Jeremy Wilson of The Telegraph reported the Gunners' boss has tracked Benzema for quite some time. And since he wasn't to complete a deal for any of the other big names on the market, he's shifted his attention to the Real striker.

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Wenger has tracked Benzema for many years, to little avail, but there is a feeling that a £40 million offer could now succeed as Madrid seek to balance their finances in the expectation of a likely world-record fee to recruit Gareth Bale.

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Throughout the process, Wenger has maintained a high standard for his striker targets. The reason is simple: The Gunners don't need a run-of-the-mill forward. They have enough talent on the roster to succeed without a move if those are the only attainable options.

Arsenal need a proven finisher with a track record of success in one of Europe's top leagues. That's why players like Higuain, Suarez and Rooney have been linked to the club throughout the summer.

Benzema certainly fits the bill.

The 25-year-old French international has scored at least 20 goals in each of the past three seasons with Real Madrid, which is an even more impressive feat when you consider how much depth the La Liga club have, including the dynamic Cristiano Ronaldo.

He started the new campaign on a high note last weekend, scoring one of the club's two goals in a narrow victory over Real Betis. Yet, that aforementioned depth explains why he could be available for Arsenal.

The Blancos have plenty of other options on the attack. One of the most intriguing is Alvaro Morata, a 20-year-old rising star who shined during the under-21 European Championships with Spain during the offseason.

Morata's strong play means he's going to force his way into first-team action sooner rather than later. Arsenal could use his meteoric ascent as leverage as they try to pry Benzema away.

If Wenger can find a way to team Benzema with Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla, the lack of success earlier in the window will be quickly forgotten. It would also give Arsenal a far more consistent and dangerous attack moving forward.

Should Benzema become the latest target to slip away, however, there's a high probability the window ends in disappointing fashion for Wenger and Arsenal.