Arsenal: Jamie Vardy Reservations Proven Wrong

Jamie Vardy has said that he does not regret rejecting Arsenal’s advances due to stylistic issues. However, his underwhelming season suggests otherwise.

Arsenal were on a desperate search for a striker last summer. Arsene Wenger, having recognised the shortcomings of Olivier Giroud – not that Giroud is a bad player but merely that a slight improvement in quality was required – was yearning for yet another world-class centre-forward.

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There were many possibilities that fell through for a variety of reasons. A £29 million offer for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette was rejected, Real Madrid exercised a buy-back clause with Alvaro Morata before Arsenal had a chance to make their move and the consistent links with Karim Benzema never quite materialised as many had hoped.

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Perhaps the closest to signing, though, was Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy. After a £20 million bid exercised a release clause, Vardy ultimately rejected the move expressing concerns regarding the complimentary aspect between his and Wenger’s style. Asked again if he regretted not moving to North London after an underwhelming season for the Foxes, Vardy stated:

"“If I’d played like that I would have been in the same situation there, so no. No, not at all. The main thing was not to let it get you down. That is the worst thing – then you will just never want to go on the pitch again. So you just have to keep working hard. If you keep working at the things that worked well in the past there is a point where they will come around and start working for you again. It was hard but that has started to happen. We have started to pick the wins up and dragged ourselves away from the relegation zone.”"

While only Vardy know how he truly feels, for him to suggest that he would have played as poorly if spearheading the Arsenal as he has been spearheading Leicester’s is shortsighted. Although Leicester are champions of England, it would be in North London where Vardy would be playing with the far superior calibre of player.

It is difficult to envisage how a striker of his lethal finishing ability does not take advantage of the creativity and attacking flair of the Arsenal midfield, even if they pass the ball a little slower and less direct than Vardy would ideally like.

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The struggles that he has had this season prove that his decision to spurn Wenger’s advances was the wrong one. He may not regret the decision but he should.