Arsenal: Riyad Mahrez The Best Thing For Akpom

If Arsenal truly intend to give the reigns to Chuba Akpom and let him earn the starting role against Liveprool, then Riyad Mahrez must be acquired.

With Wenger ‘promising’ a big signing and Gazidis doing the opposite, Arsenal are in a state of limbo. It has left us back considering just how life would be going into the season with Chuba Akpom as the sole healthy striker.

It may be tough to comprehend, but, as I have touched on before, Arsenal has made a pretty solid impact without a consistently scoring striker. Olivier Giroud is a crucial part of the offense, but he is not relied upon for goals alone. While he does normally leads the team in goals, it is the play that surrounds him that makes Arsenal really tick.

By that standard, we wouldn’t be expecting 20 goals in Akpom’s first season. Not by a long shot. Just play well, control the ball and flick in maybe ten or so and Arsenal will be in a good state.

But that state is exponentially better when Riyad Mahrez is brought into the picture. So much so that it could be Mahrez’s potential addition that would truly spring Akpom and make him a reliable striker.

My reasoning is simple. Arsenal’s goals primarily come from three positions – striker and the two wings. However, opposite Alexis has been a bit of a wildcard for awhile, and has not produced a consistent string of goals. Add in another Alexis-caliber winger opposite him and suddenly you are the proud owner of another 20 goals.

Safe to say that would make a big difference.

But how does this affect Chuba? Glad you asked. It affects Chuba in two ways. First of all, Arsenal won’t be relying on him so directly to produce goals. Even less than without Mahrez. There would be so little focus on a young 20 year old striker, as attention would have to be paid to that world-class trio behind him, that you could even argue that the young Englishman would find plenty of space to create goals.

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It spreads the defense out, as they have to cover end to end equally.

The second reason Mahrez would tremendously benefit Akpom is because of those crucial first matches. It really does worry me that Akpom would have to vie for that starting role without Ozil, Alexis or Ramsey. Those three would be his primary suppliers, should he earn the role, but his maiden voyage would be without them.

Riyad Mahrez would be ready to go and he could supply Akpom just fine. He would hold us over until the rest of the crew gets back. That could make the difference between latching onto the role confidently and not receiving good enough service and subsequently going out on loan again.

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Mahrez would be a game changer, there is no doubt about it. But nobody would feel the effects more than Chuba Akpom.

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