Arsenal told to sign Ivan Toney instead of Karim Benzema this January in transfer plea

Darren Bent has told his beloved Arsenal to ignore the lure of Karim Benzema this January and look a little closer to home.

Mikel Arteta is desperate to bolster his strikeforce at Arsenal, who have looked troubled in front in recent matches.

Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have 13 goals between them this season as they toil to keep up with Manchester City and Liverpool.

A striker who has been linked to join this January and Brentford star Ivan Toney could be the answer as he makes a return to football following an eight-month ban for a breach of betting rules.

And Bent would rather take a punt on the one-cap England international over Ballon d'Or winner and five-time Champions League winner Benzema, who has also been linked on a short-term deal as he looks to cut end his Saudi Arabian stay.

Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa striker said: “It depends as a club if you’re going short-term or long-term.

“Would Benzema be a gamble? Not really, because he's one of the best strikers we’ve ever seen - and that’s fact.

“But if you’re looking long-term, and with Arsenal’s model of signing younger players, I know Toney isn’t that young, but you could have Toney for the next four or five years.

“If you get Benzema until the end of the season, you’ve got the same problem again in the summer, and Toney might be gone by then, Chelsea might have got him.

“I’d probably go long-term with Toney, but whoever gets Benzema now until the end of the season, wow, he’s going to be incredible.

“It just depends on what he’s got left, what juice he’s got, because he’s been in Saudi with his feet up you don’t know how competitive he still is."

Toney is set to return to Premier League football this weekend when Brentford take on Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Benzema, meanwhile, signed for Al Ittihad in the summer after leaving Real Madrid but has been reportedly looking for an early exit.

Arsenal are currently fourth in the Premier League after coming off the rails somewhat in recent weeks.

In their last seven matches, the Gunners have won just once, including defeat in the FA Cup to Liverpool.

They have scored 37 times in 20 matches - the least out of the top five, losing their last three to West Ham United, Fulham and the Reds.

Arsenal take on Crystal Palace at the Emirates in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime with Roy Hodgson under mounting pressure.