Arsenal legend Wenger puts Benzema’s form down to body transformation and claims he was ‘half a stone OVERWEIGHT’

ARSENE WENGER says Karim Benzema’s outstanding form is down to him now being a “real athlete” at the age of 34 and losing weight.

The Real Madrid superstar took his goal tally to 43 for the season as he fired his club to the Champions League final.

The Spanish giants produced a stunning late rally with two goals in additional time against Manchester City to send the semi-final to extra-time.

And with Pep Guardiola’s men on the ropes, Benzema’s penalty sealed a 6-5 aggregate win in extra-time to leave City heartbroken.

Now Madrid have another date with destiny as they chase a 14th Champions League crown when they face Liverpool in Paris on May 28.

Benzema, who has ten goals in his last five outings in the competition to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s record, is in the form of his life ahead of the showpiece.

And despite being at the Bernabeu for 13 years, former Arsenal manager Wenger believes that he knows the secret behind his recent success.

He told beIN SPORTS: “It is something interesting that we are seeing across Europe now: the oldest strikers are the most efficient.

“Robert Lewandowski, Benzema, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they are scoring goals at 35 and at 40.

“The best strikers in Europe are all over 30 years of age. They use every opponent's mistake.

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“Benzema, I would say, until 30, had two or three kilos too many.

“Now he's a real athlete and that's why today, certainly, he's one of the two or three best strikers in the world.”

Benzema and Madrid have already been crowned LaLiga champions.

But he still has four games left in the Spanish top-flight to add to his goal total before the clash with Liverpool.