Will Arsenal challenge if they land him and a centre-back?

If Arsenal manage to sign Karim Benzema from Real Madrid and a top defender then they could launch a serious title challenge this season, says Harry Redknapp.

The French forward has once again been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal this summer, with reports suggesting the Gunners are readying a £40 million swoop and Arsene Wenger has refused to rule anything out.

Arsenal have only managed to sign Petr Cech so far this summer and Redknapp reckons the arrival of Benzema from Real, along with a centre-back, could see the Gunners challenge the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City for the Premier League title this season.

Quoted in the Evening Standard yesterday, the QPR boss said:

‘If Arsenal were to land Karim Benzema then they’d be one player away from being capable of launching a serious title challenge.

‘They signed Petr Cech earlier this summer and if they land Benzema then for me that would leave them with either a defensive midfielder or central defender to get and you’d have to then look at them as a genuine title threat.

‘They’ve got a lot of quality in midfield, players you can play in a number of roles so I’d probably go for a central defender, but I have to say I fancy them next season, I really do.’

Although the France international signed a contract extension at Real until 2019, Redknapp believes the presence of Benzema’s French compatriots at Arsenal, and the chance to play in the Premier League, could be enough to persuade the 27-year-old to swap the Bernabeu for the Emirates:

‘Will Benzema leave Real Madrid for Arsenal? Well, he’s won everything there is to win there and the lure of the Premier League is hard to resist.’

If Wenger is to strengthen his side further this summer, then a prolific striker has to be his top priority, and Benzema would certainly fit the bill.

If Benzema arrives then the only other area that would need serious addressing would be the defence, particularly the centre of it. Many would say a defensive midfielder is needed, but we have a number of players who could fill in should Francis Coquelin be unavailable, like Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Mathieu Flamini (if he remains at the club).

Our defence has been our downfall in the past and the addition of a top quality centre-back, one that could challenge Per Mertesacker and even Laurent Koscielny, would be ideal.

Yes, signing Benzema and a centre-back would certainly put us in contention and add depth to our squad, but in order to go all the way this season then the team will have to perform week in, week out.