Arsenal: Arsene Wenger given go ahead to spend big in signing Karim Benzema

Arsene Wenger has been given the go-ahead to break Arsenal's transfer record to sign Karim Benzema from Real Madrid this summer, according to the Daily Mail.

The Gunners signed Mesut Ozil in 2013 from the La Liga giants for a £42.5m ($66m) and have been told that they need to overshoot that amount if they have to have any chance of signing the Frenchman. The north London club shall also have to make him the highest paid player at the club but Wenger believes that Benzema's arrival will be the final piece to their puzzle which shall break their decade long struggle without a league title.

The report states that the Gunners have already had an approach rejected for the Frenchman, but Wenger is willing to offer a lucrative fee for the player to turn Madrid's head, who may change their decision if an offer interests them.

The north London club start their league campaign at home against West Ham United as they look to start the season on a winning note. Arsenal currently have Olivier Giroud as their first choice forward, with Theo Walcott capable of slotting in through the middle and offering a different dimension. Danny Welbeck, who is currently injured, can also do a job through the middle but has been berated for his profligacy in front of goal.

Benzema would combine the strengths of Giroud and Walcott, offering Arsenal a marksman with pace through the middle, thus allowing their flair players to slide him in, while also keeping an option open to hoof balls into the box.

Arsenal have made only one signing thus far in the form of Petr Cech from Chelsea, who replaced Wojciech Szczesny as their first choice goalkeeper. The Gunners were heavily linked with a move for a defensive midfielder, but Francis Coquelin's emergence has alleviated the need, allowing Wenger to concentrate on landing a forward.