Arsenal: Redemption can be offered to Riyad Mahrez

Arsenal are being linked with a move for Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez. While the Algerian has failed to replicate his PFA form, Arsene Wenger can offer him a chance of redemption.

Arsenal are entering the summer transfer window in need of some significant investment. Although money has been spent on a number of different recruits, the squad is stagnating, rotting almost, with a number of players failing to deliver on their anticipated development, there are still many areas of the squad that need improving. And that is without any significant departures.

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However, given the contract uncertainty of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and many more, it would be naive to suggest that no departures will take place this summer. There is a host of players who are facing a possible exit with no ready-made successor in place.

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Players of excellent quality must be added to this squad, and there is a good chance that such recruitment will have to be completed without the lure of Champions League football for the first time in Arsene Wenger’s tenure. As such, there could well be a need to look a little outside of the grasp of many of the European giants, as, depressingly, Arsenal can no longer compete in the transfer market with clubs of such size and draw.

One name who has been linked with a move to North London who could be attainable is Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez. Recent reports in the media have suggested that Mahrez is prepared to force an exit from last season’s miracle story after an underwhelming season, both individually and collectively. If that is the case, then it could be a wise move for the Gunners to make an advance for his services.

Although he has failed to replicate the consistent excellence of his PFA Player of the Season campaign from the previous year, there have been moments of his attacking brilliance in the latter half of the season peaking through. Mahrez is a wonderfully smooth dribbler, simply floating by defenders with consummate ease. He has a magical left foot, and is particularly threatening cutting in off of the right flank, very much reminiscent of Arjen Robben, and has, in a down year, scored six goals.

He would, though, command a rather significant transfer fee, even with his struggles this season. As such, for Arsenal to recoup their value on the Algerian, they would have to offer him the opportunity to re-find the form of the 17-goal-11-assist season in Leicester’stitle-winningg campaign.

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Thankfully, though, Wenger would be able to give Mahrez the perfect chance of redemption. He could be stationed on the right flank, replacing the criminally inconsistent Theo Walcott, and given the attacking freedom that he craves. Placing him in a team with the attacking and creative skill of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil et al. could well breathe life into Mahrez, and that is a prospect worth paying for.