Charlie Nicholas has claimed that Arsenal should pursue alternatives to Riyad Mahrez, although he would likely make our starting line-up at present.
The winger has been eyed as one of a number of replacements for wantaway star Alexis Sanchez, with the Chilean expected to make the move to Manchester City in the coming weeks.
In the summer, Sanchez agreed personal terms with the Citizens before Arsenal pulled the plug on the deal, with the Gunners having been turned down by Thomas Lemar of Monaco, and the North London club are believed to be on the look-out for a replacement once again prior to allowing him to move on.
Manchester United are the latest name to be pursuing his signature, with the Red Devils currently struggling up front.
Arsenal must figure out who they wish to bring in his place before agreeing his exit however, and former player Charlie Nicholas has urged his side to overlook Leicester City’s in-form winger Riyad Mahrez.
“I don’t see it. They were in (for him) over a season ago,” Nicholas said on Sky Sports.
“If they are interested then just hang back for a couple of weeks because it will take at least two weeks for them to get in touch with you. If it’s anything to do with the Jonny Evans situation it takes forever to get things done!
“The way he’s playing right now, I have said to you before maybe a month or so ago, I’m not particularly as an Arsenal guy seeking Riyad Mahrez to come.
“Yes, I get his talent, he’s playing outstandingly well.
“But I think there’s better players on the market you can go and get.
“But in saying that, Arsenal are probably, as we touched on, having to plan to rebuild.
“So that type of player at the moment would get into the team.
“Whereas if you asked me three of four months ago, I would have said it would have been a struggle for him.”
Is Mahrez good enough for Arsenal? Should he not be high on our list of targets this month?
Pat J
Martial.
He has spent time in the EPL now, no longer a gamble to adjusting.
Pace to burn.
Can link up play.
Can get past his man.
Not a bad shot at all.
Not a headless Theo… Chicken.
Only 22 (so will be what, 24 when Wenger contract runs out?)
He has been in and out of the UTD team this season, playing 20 EPL games and scoring 7. Alexis has played in and out of the team, played 19 and scored 7.
If UTD want Alexis then demand a straight swap.
Use the cash AFC have made from the numerous sales to get Draxler for £40 million and Malcom for £40-45 million.
AM line rebuilt.
Malcom/Draxler/Martial
Lacazette
Wenger has 18 months left (about) and I do not see him being given a new contract unless he wins the treble next year… so yeah, new manager.
That attack will have 18 months to settle, it gives AFC next year to rebuild the def using Raul and Sven over Wenger.
Next season finish the rebuild.
Season after that, new manager and title challenge.
It amazes me that Arsenal fans possess the futboling ignorance to thumb down a post like this.
Does anybody watch the EPL outside the abomination that is AFC?
Martial, Malcolm, Draxler, Mahrez, Lemar are all incredible talents that would WALK into the starting 11 @ Arsenal. They would be replacing the likes of
Walcott, Ramsey, Welbeck, Iwobi, Giroud that most on this site seem to criminally overrate.
With the pending departure of Sanchez, only Laca and Ozil are anywhere in the vicinity of being deemed as WC players.
The remaining starters are BANG ON average players that should be playing for smaller clubs in the EPL and across Europe.
Honestly after atching the LC game today, I’m convinced that Mahrez, MaGuire, Chillwell, Imbidi(sp?) and Kasper S could all play for Arsenal and would be upgrades at there respected positions.
Many have come with great reputations to this league & tanked – i wouldn’t be so sure.
Mate this makes to much sense, and this is the problem and where you get some disslikes from
Mahrez is not good enough for hi competitive Arsenal. Arsenal FC’s Board is holding investment and they are not putting their money in the club. Othervise we would already have Lemar for 60 mil (that had to be our 2nd bid this summer, not 45-50)… and we d resign at least Ozil and Wilshere by now… and Wenger would be out of the club!
Not good enough? Did you happen to watch today’s game against Chelsea? The dude was unplayable and has been in great form lately
He is MILES better than every attacking player on the Arsenal payroll sans Sanchez and his recent form has even usurped the Chileans.
Lemar, Draxler and Malcom do have youth on there side but none would have the immediate impact in North London as the Algerian.
Yes.
mahrez is good for arsenal.
mahrez wants to play for arsenal.
according to media reports he would choose us over liverpool.
i think mahrez would be an adequate walcott replacement.
walcott replacement? bench or physio table?
He absolutely shredded Chelsea all day on the right
flank, BY FAR the best player on the pitch.
He would immediately walk into the first 11 and be
the Gunners most dynamic offense player.
I rate both Malcolm and Draxler but the Algerian would not need time to acclimate to the EPL, especially when Arsenal NEED points to contend for the Wenger Cup.
Maguire, Chilwell and Imdidi (sp?) were also very impressive for LC
Sorry to be pedantic but it’s Malcom not Malcolm!
Adam, you mean Ndidi.
Yo bro, do you mean Wilfred Ndidi? ??
I am from Algeria and (Mahrez is my compatriot).The general feeling here that he wants to go to ARSENAL(somthing he has said himself).But may be wenger is seeing him as the same kind of player OZIL is….ARSENAL approached him in the summer of 2016 LEISTER refused.
Anyway he has been for me better than OZIL the last three years….. at club level at least,at international level he is not that good.
As you said: Mahrez is your compatriot. I understand you d like to see him play for the club you support.
Problem is fans are usually desperat to sign anybody just for the sake of signing and all cos Wenger is so hard on it.
We didnt need many players he had sign in last 5 years… we need better that we can fight for the PL.
@ pires true.
riyad mahrez is massively underrated.
you mean mahrez that was voted premier league player of the year
under rated in the dictionary that is
Not the type of player we need more of. Good offensively, but not able to defend and win the ball back. But Wenger might like just because of that.
Oxlade gone, Theo & Alexis look to be leaving but don’t get one of the best wingers in the league?. Yes. all wingers should track back & we should certainly get a defensive midfielder now that Coquelin has left
When a club activates players’ release clause, the club can’t stop the player from talking to that club?
Lucas Torreira has a £22 million release clause..
spurs handling everton easily, who are the two teams that finish 5-6 if we are able to get to top 4? i dont see it, means no UCL is no longer an anomoly, its a new reality.
No man, Ramsey is comin back… he ll save us and his daddy Wenger.
he is better than zidande, Aaron bighead Ramsey, better than zidane
kane scores at ease and we debate giroud…. incredible, ho wonder we are now mid table
case in point, giroud scores 13 goals per season, we finish 4-5th, and we have an army of thumbs down, meanwhile kane scores at will… we will be playing next year on thursdays, they on tuesdays and wednesdays… and we can watch giroud score one of his magnificent 13 goals…
Yes. He would be a valuable asset to us
He can score and assist
He can play on the right and in centre
Most important he has plenty of PL experience and a PL trophy
He is better than Theo and Iwobi innit
But we need him in addition to a replacement to Alexis and Ozil if we want to build a team capable of challenging for the title. We need to get players like Lemar, Draxler, Dybala etc. The other teams are alrwady stronger and getting even stronger
OT: wondering what everyone thinks about this:
LA Rams this year were like Arsenal in CL; advance out of group stage lose rd 16. Basically what Rams did this year.
Point is this; Rams progressing, on the up, and getting 2 billion new stadium in massive LA market.
Arsenal REGRESSING and sinking, best players leaving, club in true mess.
Where would you invest? Spend millions trying to keep Titanic afloat with no guarantees? Or strengthen a good shiney new toy guaranteed to make money on investment?
I would be floored if Arsenal spend anywhere close to what we need. I expect Rams to be Kronke’s new darling, and where Lion’s share of money gets invested.
Hope I’m wrong, but how active Sven is with new young players will answer the question
One thing certain about Charlie Nicholas comments is that it doesn’t make any sense at all. Ignore the pursuit of a special player for no reason.
As much as i hate Spuds, you got to hand it to them. They built a top notch side
Imagine if they still had Bale with Kane, Ericksen, Son, Dembele, Alli.
I bet you Spurs fans support Wenger staying manager more than Arsenal fans innit
Every club in PL supports Wenger. 🙂
He s so down that even Mourinho stoped his stupid attacks and concentrated on Conte.
@ Innit i also hate spurs but they are playing good football.
they just hammered everton 4-0 with such ease.
kane scores two.mr consistency.
never thoght i would say it, the are better than us. now what?meanwhile our best players want out
It was only a matter of time ?
just remind me, how many trophies have they won in the last four years?
Every year is the year that Spuds have the team that will be champions, but I seem to remember a match not too long ago that ended 2-0 and they were played off the (Emirates) park.
You mention Bale, what about Santi Cazorla?
What on earth would you be saying if you had to wait fifty six years to be champions? Make that 57 years and counting!!
Draxler hasn’t pulled up trees in France – we’ve been hearing of his potential for ages – certainly b4 Leroy Sané emerged. Sane’s far more important to Germany now.
Malcolm like Pavon is a kid & unproven at the highest level.
As for:
Premier League PFA Team of the Year: 2015–16
PFA Players’ Player of the Year: 2015–16
PFA Fans’ Player of the Year: 2016
Leicester City Player of the Year: 2015–16
BBC African Footballer of the Year: 2016
Facebook FA Premier League Player of the Year : 2016
El Heddaf Arab Footballer of the Year: 2016
Lion d’Or African Footballer of the Year: 2016
CAF African Footballer of the Year: 2016
CAF Team of the Year: 2016
We need Riyad asap!!!!!
“Sane more important to Germany now” blatant lie!
Draxler captained a very youthful German side to win the confederations cup last year. Where was Sane?
PHAHAH arsenal targets we don’t have targets we have oh crap who’s cheap now system
Whoever comes is highly welcomed, we will challenge for anything, but at least you can get easy money at Arsenal regardless how good you are
spurs 5 points clear of us now.
Here we go again ☹
1, Martial
2, Mahrez
3, Draxler
4, Lemar
5, Malcom
This is how i see it
Go and sign both Mahrez and Malcom if possible. The appearance would be that we’re more in for Malcom due to his age, and Arsenal finally looking at a full rebuild, even Arsène saying so in an article over the last day or so. I believe the team is finally preparing for a life after Wenger. In today’s crazy market, if you could get Mahrez for £45-50 million, then that’s a steal IMO. Agee with whoever mentioned him as not tracking back and pressuring the ball, but does Malcom? I’m sure it’s one or the other because it’s Arsenal, but I’d love both, and a CM, along with a CB.
Sell Walcott Buy Mahrez