Said Benrahma during his time at OGC Nice. (Getty Images)
According to The Telegraph, Arsenal are interested in signing Brentford winger Said Benrahma in the summer. However, they face competition from Leicester City and Newcastle United for his signature.
Said Benrahma, 24, came through the ranks as a youngster at OGC Nice, featuring for their first and second teams but was shipped out on three loan spells in France. He signed for Brentford in the summer of 2018 and enjoyed a fantastic debut season, racking up 11 goals and 17 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions.
The Algerian has scored eight league goals and provided six assists so far this season, forming a formidable attacking unit with Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins at Griffin Park, with the trio scoring 38 goals in England’s second-tier.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have an exciting attack which has players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe, Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Martinelli, Mesut Ozil and Eddie Nketiah. Yet, they have only scored 32 goals in 25 games.
Aubameyang has enjoyed another prolific season with the Gunners, despite the club’s ongoing struggles in the Premier League. He is the club’s top scorer with 16 goals in all competitions but he turns 31 in the summer. The Gabonese’s strike partner, Lacazette has now gone 10 league games without scoring. Ozil is yet to open his account this season, while Pepe has struggled to live up to the lofty expectations of the Emirates Stadium faithful following his summer switch from Lille.
Thus, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta should plan to pump in some fresh blood into his forward department ahead of the 2020/21 campaign. Thus, the north London giants must make a move for Said Benrahma in the summer.
Benrahma has established himself as one of the best players in the Championship following his vital contributions for Brentford over the last two seasons. Since arriving at Griffin Park in 2018, he has scored 18 goals in 65 league appearances. That includes his impressive record this season, scoring 8 and assisting 6 in 26 outings. Most recently, he netted a fantastic hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Hull City.
The three-cap Algeria international would bring a lot of quality to Arteta’s attack, whilst adding competition for Arsenal’s wide players. Benrahma has proven himself in the Championship and is at the right age to make the step up to the Premier League.
The 24-year-old has enhanced his reputation this campaign after a series of eye-catching displays with Brentford. Thus, the Gunners must do everything possible to sign Benrahma in the summer.
