Arsenal legend Ian Wright has branded the club’s efforts to sign Real Madrid star Karim Benzema as ’embarrassing’, reports the Daily Express.
A former striker himself, the 51-year-old believes that the Gunners went about trying to bring the forward to the Emirates Stadium in the wrong way. The North Londoners were left disappointed when the France international ended up staying at the Bernabeu, and even described Madrid as his home.
“I thought the Benzema situation was embarrassing in the way they pursued it,” Wright said, “Trying to get a player like that, straight off the bat you have to find out if they’re interested in coming. If they’re interested, you pursue it.
“I thought they dealt with it was pretty bad, and the way he mugged Arsenal off on Twitter by saying Madrid is his home wasn’t great.”
Fans have criticised manager Arsene Wenger for his inability to sign a single outfield player over the summer. The lack of investment has been felt most up front, where the Gunners have looked out of sorts this season. In their five Premier League matches they have scored only three goals, when own goals are discounted.
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Olivier Giroud’s sending off against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League has compounded this discontent. The 28-year-old was given a red card following two cautions, one for dissent and the other for a clumsy foul. However, fellow striker Theo Walcott did find the back of the net against the Croatian outfit.