Arsenal continue to be frustrated in their attempts to sign a new striker this summer, with any move for Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema a long way from being completed.

However, it will interest the Gunners hierarchy to know that the Real faithful don’t even think Benzema is good enough to play in their first team.

A poll carried out by Spanish newspaper AS asked 67,773 internet readers who should new head coach Rafa Benitez start the season with in Real’s opening La Liga game against Sporting Gijon on Sunday evening, before doing the Spaniard’s job for him and naming the starting XI for him.

Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Show all 24 1 /24 Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Alex McCarthy, Crystal Palace An excellent low save from Sanchez stood out in a confident display from the summer signing. He could do little about both Arsenal goals. 6 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Joel Ward, Crystal Palace A well-taken goal couldn’t quite make up for a series of careless errors early in the first half, one of which led to Arsenal’s opener. 5 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Scott Dann, Crystal Palace Often found himself having to put his body on the line to make up for his colleagues mistakes. A defensive rock in a disorganised side. 6 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Damien Delaney, Crystal Palace A careless own-goal summed up a disappointing afternoon for the centre-back, who was made to look leaden-footed by Arsenal’s fast-moving attackers. 5 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Pape Souare, Crystal Palace Looked to supplement the attack on the left and did well to shackle Ramsey when he drifted right. But too often allowed himself to be pulled infield allowing Bellerin to exploit space. 6 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings James McArthur, Crystal Palace An energetic box-to-box display from the midfielder, who cleared off the line at one end but also held the ball up well to assist Joel Ward’s goal. 7 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Yohan Cabaye, Crystal Palace Pardew had argued that the club’s record signing could impress in Arsenal’s side. Not on the basis of this game. Too often he was bypassed by Arsenal’s pacey counters. However his excellent set-piece delivery remained Palace’s best attacking weapon. 6 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Yannick Bolasie, Crystal Palace A vibrant, dangerous presence on the right who gave Monreal plenty to think about. It seemed a bizarre decision by Pardew to remove him halfway through. 6 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Jason Puncheon, Crystal Palace A well-crafted, energetic display in the number 10 role. He moved the ball neatly without ever suggesting he might be about to make a definitive impact. 6 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Wilfried Zaha, Crystal Palace A thrilling display from the England winger, who shone as bright as any of his more feted opponents. He took on his opponents time and again, showing confidence and thrilling the Selhurst crowd. 8 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Connor Wickham, Crystal Palace Anonymous in the first half, he only became more visible in the second as he wasted two excellent opportunities, hitting the post then blazing over when in space inside the box. 5 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Off the bench: Jordan Mutch, Crystal Palace Did little to replace Bolasie’s creativity and trickery but did show plenty of willingness to get up and down. 6 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Petr Cech, Arsenal Much better from the new man, he showed quick reactions to sweep up behind Arsenal’s high defensive line and made a couple of good, if not excellent, saves. 7 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Hector Bellerin, Arsenal His return showed just how invaluable he has become to Arsenal. Made several important tackles in the second half as well as getting forward to add to the attack. 8 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal Should have closed down Ward much quicker for Palace’s goal. This was not the assured performance Wenger would have expected from his French defender. 5 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Per Mertesacker, Arsenal As commanding as ever in the air, though guilty of a few loose passes on the deck. He kept Wickham out of sight for most of the contest. 6 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Nacho Monreal, Arsenal On the receiving end of a torrid afternoon from the excellent Zaha, he dropped every deeper to deal with the threat but still had difficulties. 6 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Francis Coquelin, Arsenal Lucky to avoid a dismissal on the stroke of half-time but Wenger perhaps should have considered removing a player who gave the ball away much too often. 5 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Santi Cazorla, Arsenal Looked reinvigorated in his preferred deep-lying role, working well with Ozil and kicking off Arsenal’s counters. 7 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Aaron Ramsey, Arsenal Something strange seems to have happened to the Welshman, who has lost his knack for making the right decision. Seems too eager to shoot when his teammates are well placed. 5 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Mesut Ozil, Arsenal Thrived in the space Palace afforded to him, combining well with Sanchez and drifting out to the left-flank to create chances. 7 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal What a return for the Arsenal star. Palace defenders seemed terrified of closing him down for fear he would make them look foolish. He often did. 8 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Olivier Giroud, Arsenal Another to atone for a disastrous display against West Ham, taking his early goal in spectacular fashion to set Arsenal on course. At times his flicks can look too premeditated though, and Palace often beat his teammates to his knock downs. 7 Getty Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2 player ratings Off the bench: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arsenal His introduction for Coquelin gave Arsenal another valuable option on the counter, forcing Palace’s defence deeper to compensate for him. 6 Getty

Unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo drew in the most votes with 66,000, but it was the rather unfamiliar sight of seeing the Ballon d’Or winner leading the line in attack. Behind him saw a trio made up of James Rodriguez (62,109), Isco (53,453) and Gareth Bale (38,023), meaning that there was is no room for Benzema.

The France international has come under scrutiny in the past despite scoring 133 goals in 281 games for Real, and it’s known that Arsene Wenger remains a fan of the 27-year-old who joined the Spanish club in 2009.

The rest of the side lines up as expected, with Keylor Navas in goal, a back four made up of Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in midfield.

It means that Pepe misses out along with new signing Danilo. However, that team would certainly change should Real get their man this summer and sign David De Gea, who would replace Navas in goal.