Would the Gunners and Jamie Vardy actually be right for each other?

By Hilton Yip Source:Global Times Published: 2016-6-6 23:08:01

While Arsenal wasted no time in ­getting started on the transfer market with their purchase of Granit Xhaka, they also showed they weren't finished with the shock announcement of their offer on Friday for Jamie Vardy. But despite the tantalizing possibility of the ­Leicester talisman striker leading the line for ­Arsenal next season, one wonders if it is a worthy risk.

Vardy, as everyone knows by now, helped lead Leicester to the Premiership crown with his 24 league goals. He scored throughout the season, including in a fantastic Premiership record run of 11 consecutive games. Even when he wasn't scoring, his threat kept opposing defenders on their toes and opened up areas for teammates like Riyad Mahrez. All this is why Vardy will be appearing at Euro 2016 next week for England as one of their main strikers.

However, Vardy is also 29 and has had only one great Premiership season. He has been a prolific goal-scorer throughout his career, but much of it was spent in the lower leagues. His main threat is his speed, but that declines with age. The bigger issue is whether Vardy will be able to mesh with Arsenal's style of play given the possession-based offensive the Gunners use rather before soaking up pressure on defense then counterattacking, which worked so well for Leicester last season.

It is no secret that Arsenal need a top striker with incumbent Olivier Giroud having come off a tepid season where his 24 goals somewhat masked the fact he went missing for a big chunk of the second half, and Danny Welbeck's terrible injury. There were options out there such as Alvaro Morata, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Gonzalo Higuain, all of whom are either younger or more prolific than Vardy. And all of them have played in Europe and in the Champions League, while Vardy has not.

Of course, for 20 million pounds ($22.7 million), Vardy is significantly cheaper. Also, Vardy offers a sort of boldness and in-your-face attitude, something Arsenal definitely lack aside from Gabriel and Jack Wilshere. Vardy has had his share of off-field controversies, including uttering racist taunts at a man at a casino, so Arsenal will hope he won't bring that to London. 

And then there is the ultimate possibility. Manager Arsene Wenger might change his usual tactics to accommodate Vardy to make the most of his deadly counterattacks and wily movements. Pretty soccer, which Arsenal always try to play even when it is ineffective, might give way to pace and pragmatism. Opponents will need to be prepared for sudden breakaways and shots from all angles rather than the usual pass-happy buildups and in-the-box shots Arsenal like.

Signing Vardy may not work out, but it raises the possibility of a new dimension to Arsenal's attack in more ways than one. It just may be a gamble worth taking, and by the time you read this, Vardy may have chosen to accept it.

The author is a Hong Kong-based freelance writer. hcpyip@gmail.com

Posted in: Extra Time

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