Long-time Arsenal target Karim Benzema is close to signing a new contract at Real Madrid, according to reports.

You might be saddened to know that Arsenal won’t be signing Karim Benzema. The Frenchman has been on Arsenal’s radar for a long time, with rumours of him coming to Arsenal coming out at least once a summer.

According to The Sun, Benzema will soon sign a new contract with the Champions League holders, ending speculation once and for all. The 29-year-old will see out his best years with Madrid.

It’s crazy that even now, Arsenal are being linked with him. He’s well-liked at Real and continues to be a starter for them. Strikers have come and gone, but he’s still there.

We went and got Alexandre Lacazette, kept Olivier Giroud and have other forward options, but there appears to be an obligation to have Benzema stories every transfer window.

The closest Arsenal arguably got was back in 2013, when Real were selling either Benzema or Gonzalo Higuain. Arsenal went for Higuain, but missed out of him. They then tried for Benzema but were never going to get him. Now they never will.