Arsenal Boss Confident Benzema and Giroud Can Form A Partnership

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is confident Gunners striker Olivier Giroud and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema can forge a successful partnership for the French national team.

The two strikers have only started three of France's left seven World Cup qualifiers together with manager Didier Deschamps prefering a lone striker during the campaign.

Giroud's prolific start to the season for the Gunners has seen the 27-year-old preferred in the central striking role for France's previous to qualifiers against Belarus and Georgia, while Benzema's indifferent first three months of the season saw him left on the bench for the entirety of the 4-2 win over Belarus last month.

Reports have suggested that Wenger is keen to bring Benzema to the Emirates Stadium in January to bolster his attack and perhaps forge a potent partnership with Giroud at club level as well as for country.

But in the meantime, the Arsenal boss believes France manager Deschamps must persevere with the duo ahead of their final qualifying game against Finland on Tuesday.

"As for whether Olivier Giroud and Karim Benzema can play together, they can yes," Wenger said through his Eurosport blog. "But up until now, their partnership hasn't worked so they must find another way.

"It is always hard. But you must have guys who are giving good assists as well as guys who can score.

"Right now, those who fail to score are always being singled out. But a question must be answered: do we have enough guys giving good assists? I think France are lacking something in this regard."

While the irresistible form of Aaron Ramsey and the immediate impact of Mesut Ozil are often the first things attributed to Arsenal's excellent start to the campaign, Giroud has proven to be an adept lone forward, striking six goals so far this season in all competitions including a winner over arch rivals Tottenham.

Meanwhile, Benzema has been targeted by frustrated fans at the Bernabeu on occasion this season. The former Lyon star scored twice in the club's opening two La Liga games but has failed to add to that tally since, but did net a brace in the 6-1 rout over Galatasaray in the Champions League.