Arsenal Transfer News: Arsene Wenger Frustrated Amid Karim Benzema Rumours

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he’s a little frustrated by the Gunners’ lack of transfer activity this summer, as reports continue to link the club with a move for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, per Jack Austin of talkSPORT.

The Frenchman was speaking ahead of his side’s trip to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday and was asked whether the opening-day defeat to West Ham United, a match in which the Gunners tepidly lost 2-0, would prompt him into splashing out.

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"If we find somebody anywhere who strengthens our squad then we will do it," said Wenger, per Jim van Wijk of the Independent. "But it is not supermarket stuff where you go in and say, 'I would like this, please can you give it to me'. The availability is not easy."

Wenger was also asked about the prospect of Sevilla star midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak joining the club, but he responded “no” when asked if there was any substance to the links, per Uche Amako of the Daily Express.

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Benzema is the player most Arsenal supporters would love to see joining the club. Granted, the base of the midfield is a position which is in need of some overdue replenishment, and Krychowiak is a player who would do a fine job in that role. But there’s something special about getting in a big name centre-forward; it certainly gives everyone at the club a major lift.

Especially someone with the kind of pedigree the Real Madrid man has. As noted by OptaJose, he truly is an elite centre-forward:

"

130 - Karim Benzema has scored more goals than any other Frenchman in the top 5 leagues in the last 10 seasons. Elite pic.twitter.com/IsP45vRclb

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) August 7, 2015"

But looking at this potential deal from a Los Blancos perspective, why would they be willing to relinquish control of their No. 9? Not only does Madrid manager Rafa Benitez have a scarcity of options in the orthodox centre-forward position, but Benzema dovetails tremendously with Real’s other attacking options, most notably Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe looked at where Arsenal may conduct some business in the latter stages of the window, but he doesn’t expect a move for Benzema to materialise:

It’s a transfer story which is likely to run up until the deadline passes. But Wenger has been insistent there is no truth to the story, per the club's official website, despite aforementioned reports to the contrary. If the public denials are a facade and the club are scrupulously working behind the scenes to sort a transfer, they’d be wise to alter their targets with the window’s end approaching.

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Wenger has surprised us before when it comes to transfers, most notably when the club landed Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day in 2013. But pulling off a deal for Benzema seems even more unlikely a proposition at this stage of the season.

Some new faces probably are needed to complement the acquisition of goalkeeper Petr Cech if Arsenal are to win the title. Splashing out on players with inflated values attached is not something that typically appeals to Wenger's often conservative approach to the transfer window, though. As such, the Frenchman will have to pull a rabbit out of the hat if he's to land a talent that'll immediately improve this team.