Arsenal threw everything into trying to convince Karim Benzema to leave Real Madrid this summer, tribalfootball.com can reveal.
Both Gunners boss Arsene Wenger and director Lord Harris admitted during the summer market that the Frenchman had his heart set on one major name to solve his striker dilemma, with general consensus being Benzema was the player he wanted.
And Emanuele Giulianelli, in his first column for tribalfootball.com this week, reveals the extent to which Wenger and Arsenal attempted to prise the France international away from Madrid:
"Gunners supporters expected a top player, at least, but none came. The name on every fan's lips was Karim Benzema: from what I know, the French striker had been very close to signing for Arsenal, with Arsene Wenger, Mesut Ozil and Thierry Henry involved in convincing him to accept the new destination. But it seems that the negotiations failed due to Florentino Perez changing the cards on the table."
Emanuele's revelation comes just days after Benzema expressed frustration with the constant substitutions he's endured under Real coach Rafa Benitez this season.
Click here to read Emanuele's entire column.