Riyad Mahrez

[MaraDon]

No. The idea of Özil or Mahrez being passengers is ridiculous. Mahrez is the best player at Leicester, Özil arguably the best at Arsenal (second best at worst).

To call either of them passengers makes absolutely no sense, both contribute massively to their teams' offence.

Genuinely reckon some of you guys deserve to be strapped to a chair and forced to watch a Walcott - Giroud - Campbell front 3 for eternity (hands out of your pants @Jury ).

drinkwater is leicester best player

 

[Dokaka]

drinkwater is leicester best player

He has looked awful since Kante left. Completely exposed in midfield without Kante's presence.

I'm inclined to say Schmeichel is Leciester's best player. Certainly the only one I could see going to a top club.

Ndidi looks quite good as well since breaking through. Has stepped into Kante's role and done a very good job. Was surprised when I saw he's only 20. Fantastic tackler.

 

[kofigunner]

If we persist with our current 3-4-3 formation, we desperately need a player like Mahrez. He would fit into almost any formation here, to be fair. Our current team doesn't have a really good dribbler in the final third. It is fun to see how much pressure Ox puts on defenders because he's decent with either foot and has a lot of pace. Now imagine a player like Mahrez who has decent pace, is a good dribbler as well, can create and just as importantly, put the ball into the net. Against Southampton for example, Özil had a few situations where he was in space against one or two defenders, and didn't press the issue. Sanchez also tends to dribble to his right, and that makes him a little predictable. See how the defenders flew around when he decided to fake and shoot with his left. A player like Mahrez who can go either way and has such a good understanding of the game would make things easier for everyone going forward.

 

[Red London]

If we persist with our current 3-4-3 formation, we desperately need a player like Mahrez. He would fit into almost any formation here, to be fair. Our current team doesn't have a really good dribbler in the final third. It is fun to see how much pressure Ox puts on defenders because he's decent with either foot and has a lot of pace. Now imagine a player like Mahrez who has decent pace, is a good dribbler as well, can create and just as importantly, put the ball into the net. Against Southampton for example, Özil had a few situations where he was in space against one or two defenders, and didn't press the issue. Sanchez also tends to dribble to his right, and that makes him a little predictable. See how the defenders flew around when he decided to fake and shoot with his left. A player like Mahrez who can go either way and has such a good understanding of the game would make things easier for everyone going forward.

i 100% agree. sanchez is a great player but 1on1 dribbling isnt his best attribute, he tends to run into blind alleys, turn around or cut in rather than take on his man.. mahrez is a specialist at it and if he came and performed he will have a similar role to what Nasri used to do for us. A skillful player who can score goals

 

[Red London]

its crazy we dont have players like Mahrez in our team.. considering the way we play. We really have gone into a completely different direction than where we should be in terms of our players... i find it ridicolous than an overly attacking team who prides itself on sexy football relies on welbeck walcott perez etc as wingers when they really arent about ball control and taking players on. We are crying out for a Mahrez esque signing but also a striker, and CM so if we dont have the ambition again then it wont be happening

 

[FinnGooner]

Has one amazing season in his entire career. The rest, bang average. Still people want him. What am I missing? I've seen him play and, yes he has ton of nice tricks, but he is not a world class player and never will be. Not very good when he doesn't have ton of space behind the defence to run to. Not particularly creative. He can dribble and cross, that's about it. We need better. He would be an upgrade on Theo, for sure, but we can still do better. We should do better

 

[GDeep™]

Has one amazing season in his entire career. The rest, bang average. Still people want him. What am I missing? I've seen him play and, yes he has ton of nice tricks, but he is not a world class player and never will be. Not very good when he doesn't have ton of space behind the defence to run to. Not particularly creative. He can dribble and cross, that's about it. We need better. He would be an upgrade on Theo, for sure, but we can still do better. We should do better

He's just turned 26, how many top seasons are you expecting? He was good for Leicester in the championship too, so you can say he's been playing to a decent level since he was 23ish.

Struggled this season, but that was expected, he's a target for the opposition after last season - at Arsenal, he would be one of 3/4 talented attackers

What I like most is that at his best, or near his best, you feel he'll do something every time he gets the ball.

 

[GDeep™]

He's a 'footballer' too, in a way that Giroud, Theo, Welbeck and Sanchez aren't.

 

[GDeep™]

We'll need Mahrez plus a top striker, ideally.

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

Mahrez is a quality player, I think we should've grabbed him in January.

That said, a lot depends on what we're doing with our formation. If we're going 3 at the back full time, where does someone like Mahrez fit in? I suppose he could play in behind the striker, the area Alexis/Özil play in, then maybe push Alexis up top.

 

[fabo]

His value should have dropped after this season too. We definitely need a player of his ilk, who can drive play forward and isn't static.

 

[GDeep™]

Mahrez is a quality player, I think we should've grabbed him in January.

That said, a lot depends on what we're doing with our formation. If we're going 3 at the back full time, where does someone like Mahrez fit in? I suppose he could play in behind the striker, the area Alexis/Özil play in, then maybe push Alexis up top.

Apparently has an agreement with Leicester to leave in the summer. So doubt he would push to leave in Jan or earlier.

He'll kick up a fuss this summer though.

 

[mm76]

Mahrez is a quality player, I think we should've grabbed him in January.

That said, a lot depends on what we're doing with our formation. If we're going 3 at the back full time, where does someone like Mahrez fit in? I suppose he could play in behind the striker, the area Alexis/Özil play in, then maybe push Alexis up top.

yes, or just rotate him with Özil - we don't have to be like Leicester and play him every game - we're in that rubbish Europa league and will be in cups etc so we need top quality players in depth

Chelsea having Willian doesn't stop them from playing others ahead of him

 

[blaise]

I d actually be happy with Mahrez and some 20/30m young gamble for CF if we get rid of Giroud. Welbeck/Sanchez are capable for a season of CF in this system, just not sure Alexis likes it up top.

 

[tap-in]

I d actually be happy with Mahrez and some 20/30m young gamble for CF if we get rid of Giroud. Welbeck/Sanchez are capable for a season of CF in this system, just not sure Alexis likes it up top.

I always thought Alexis loved playing CF, I thought it was after he was moved back to the wing that his doubts about his future started. I may be wrong but that's how I saw it.

 

[logic DC]

don't understand those who are against this signing, if he joined tomorrow he would probably be our third most talented player, and some have the nerve to turn him down as though we have plenty better players in our squad. crazy

 

[Malky]

Ignoring the talk about ' squad balance ', having Mahrez, Sanchez, Özil, Cazorla and Xhaka on the pitch together could be some beautiful attacking football!
:bounce:

 

[OSBK]

Has to be a top striker if we go for mahrez.

 

[allegro]

If we persist with our current 3-4-3 formation, we desperately need a player like Mahrez. He would fit into almost any formation here, to be fair. Our current team doesn't have a really good dribbler in the final third. It is fun to see how much pressure Ox puts on defenders because he's decent with either foot and has a lot of pace. Now imagine a player like Mahrez who has decent pace, is a good dribbler as well, can create and just as importantly, put the ball into the net. Against Southampton for example, Özil had a few situations where he was in space against one or two defenders, and didn't press the issue. Sanchez also tends to dribble to his right, and that makes him a little predictable. See how the defenders flew around when he decided to fake and shoot with his left. A player like Mahrez who can go either way and has such a good understanding of the game would make things easier for everyone going forward.

Yes its my same thoughts..Its why I've said in other posts I would take Mahrez in and Özil out. Mahrez is definitely what WE NEED more than a player like Özil. Sure he has weakness in his game but for me all the qualities you mention are something our squad lacks completely.

 

[allegro]

I always thought Alexis loved playing CF, I thought it was after he was moved back to the wing that his doubts about his future started. I may be wrong but that's how I saw it.

Again he showed why last night with his skill for that goal...that its not coincidence his form suffered since Wenger decided to push him out to accommodate Giroud, the teams form suffered as well.

Before anyone slates me for bashing Giroud, while I dont think he is top class he is a GOOD striker. However we rarely play to his strengths. Go figure when this guy lives for crosses into the box (look again last night) that we play a leftie on right and rightie on left. Until Ox our delivery from fb has been appalling. Only our tactically inept manager can answer that one!