Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has claimed that a deal to bring Riyad Mahrez to the Emirates this summer is possible, while also insisting that both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will be staying put.
The Algerian international would likely command a hefty fee after his Premier League winning form of the 2015-16 term, which earned him the PFA Premier League Player of the Year award, and Tottenham are also believed to be eyeing his signature also.
The midfielder has already spoken out in the press to express his wishes to move clubs, with him having agreed a deal with his club last summer which would allow him to leave in the close-season.
With Arsene Wenger revealing plenty whilst talking to Arsenal.com over the past days, we are set to remain in our newly-favoured 3-4-2-1 formation, and both Alexis and Ozil are set to stay put, so where would that leave space for Mahrez in our playing squad?
The 26 year-old has played predominantly in wide roles for Leicester City, as well as playing in behind the striker on occasion, but the two roles off the striker are currently dominated by Mesut and Sanchez.
The Chilean was switched to play as the attacker early into this season, but is believed to have told his manager that he preferred to play on the left behind the forward, and in the current formation, he would be a clear favourite for his favoured position.
Mahrez could possibly vie for a role at right-back, but Hector Bellerin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are already battling strongly for that position, and you wouldn’t expect them to make way for the Leicester man.
Would Mahrez’s signing simply open the door for Alexis or Ozil to move on this summer? Could he really come in knowing he would likely be behind the pair in the pecking order?
Pat J
Don’t get why we want Mahrez. The winger version of Ozil, which means he will try when he feels like it. Surely there are better players for the price Leicester are asking, which is 40mill I believe. He’s been exposed after last season.
Don’t want him. 40 mill for a guy who ghosted for a whole season and is literally the definition of a one season wonder. He is even more lazy than Ozil Some arsenal fans on this site are so clueless. I remember many of them saying sell Ozil and buy james rodriguez. This isn’t the 2014 wc, james is literally better than Ozil in just shooting and he wasn’t even in the starting 18 for madrid. We would be signing a reject.
No mahrez please one season wonder
We need a Douglas costa arda turan tolisso type of upgrades not mahrez
We do not need Turan or Mahrez. We need to find the next Cazorla and think that is Piotra Zielionski who is at Napoli. The polish midfielder tackles, is a wonderful passer and scores goals.
Put him alongside Zhaka who I think will be better next season and we might have a better chance of winning the league
Mahrez and Ozil together loafing around.
Or perhaps just Mahrez replacing Ozil so he can singularly loaf around and lord it up.
I think the addition of Mbappe, Mahrez and Idrissa Guaye or any Very Good CDM would be good
3.4.2.1
Mbappe
Sanchez ozil
Koslanic Xhaka Guaye Mahrez
Holding Koscenly Mustafi
Cech
Sanchez and Mbappe would be swapping positions often during any match, Mahrez would push forward more then Kosslanic, Guaye would sit deep more and break tackles from the right to cover for Mahrez when he moves forward.
Who’s Koslanic? Is he Koscelny’s brother?
Mahrez… Ozil…. Alexis
…. Lacazette/Mbappe
or
Mahrez…. Ozil…. Turan
………….. Alexis
Friends, its just everywhere where we are about to lose a player which is going to be the left flank Sanchez
Mahrez another lazy player
This is why we will never win the title
Mahrez is a risky,risky signing. Wenger also doesnt sign EPL players that turn out to be a key player. I hope he takes stars from other leagues
Mahrez, ozil, mbappe, Sanchez would be a great attacking force
With Wenger you never no what is really going on. If Alexis and Ozil sign new contracts Mahrez and Alexis could function as two strikers with Ozil just behind them in the middle. We know Wenger doesn’t rate strikers very highly so in a 3-4-1-2 you could have Alexis on the left with Mahrez on the right and Ozil in the middle. This would be a bad idea IMO.
More likely Wenger knows Sanchez won’t play a big role next season because even if he is forced to stay he won’t be the Sanchez we love. He will be the Sanchez that sulcks and fights to get whathe wants, a transfer. Sanchez came from a tough background where he had to fight for anything he got I believe Wenger getting in the way of a transfer that could lead to a trophy would show the worst side of Sanchez. I am not sure the argument that he signed a contract will float for Sanchez particularly if the new club offers Wenger good money.
Finally Mahrez could also be a complicated negotiation ploy where Wenger is trying to sign the player he really wants but makes the club that owns that player think that if they ask too much Wenger might go for Mahrez instead.
You would think that if Wenger really wanted Mahrez that this would have been a deal that could have been agreed already since I don’t expect too many top clubs to be in for Mahrez.
Look at the speed City moved in, if you really want a player you go and get him before someone else does.
Wenger won’t buy Mahrez, he said it himself.
Mbappe
Sanchez Mahrez
ozil
Kolasinac Xhaka Bellerin
Holding Koscenly Mustafi
Cech
Coach:AW
Mahrez would be a excellent signing for you.
You play a front 3 of Mahrez right, Ozil central, Sanchez on the left.
It amazes me that Arsenal fans have judged on a opinion from last season, the guy draws players to him he’s that good, Sanchez and Ozil will think all there Christmas’s have come at once , they will have so much space.
The thought of facing them 3, would scare teams to death
There’s a striker at Celtic called Ndembele. That’s the player to go for at the right price instead of Mbappe
When you say Ozil is lazy please offer some stats to back your statement. Don’t just report as fact what you read elsewhere. Its all in their and seemingly now your imagination. Its a known fact that negative stories about arsenal always get more attention and us the ‘fickle arsenal fans’ will always believe it as fact. Anyway Arsene plays his cards too close to the vest to let anyone know who he’s after. The Mahrez story is most probably bollox.
I’d be happy with Mahrez signing. Forget the price tag, we’ve hoarded for too long. I don’t care what the price tag is. He’s dynamic and would link well with players. He’s great at earning penalties and is a guy who can dribble at you with unpredictability over his next move. He’s a poor mans Robben, and we need that ability in this team, as it releases Ramsey runs and frees up Sanchez to get in the box. We need someone like this with excellent control on the ball. It’ll free up our midfield in attack and Sanchez, too. We need attacking players who have dribbling and flair. Alexis on left and Mahrez on right, with a top striker of course! How can defenses gameplan that?
Signing Mahrez would indicate nothing is going to change. We need players who both can attack and defend. Not more Ozils, Walcotts, Chamberlains, Iwobis etc.