The striker's impending move may be considered a risk
due to his age, but the qualities he'll bring to the Gunners mean it is
a worthwhile gamble for Arsene Wenger
At 29, Vardy is on the verge of making his final big move in English football, as the Gunners close in on signing the 24-goal man for a fee in excess of £20 million. It's a huge surprise to many Arsenal supporters that Wenger has decided to go down this route, especially when links with the likes of marquee names including Karim Benzema, Alvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku have appeared in recent weeks and months.
Vardy isn't the refined, slick, operator that Gunners fans have been accustomed to over the years, but he will bring the team something that they have lacked in abundance for several seasons - goals - and plenty of them. The Premier League champion is the most complete forward in English football right now and finished last season top of the total goal involvement table (30)
Indeed, Vardy's 24 goals and 6 assists saw him finish ahead of team-mate Riyad Mahrez (28), Harry Kane (26), Sergio Aguero (26), Mesut Ozil (25), Romelu Lukaku (24) and Olivier Giroud (22). There can be no argument over Vardy's stats which are unrivalled and at £20m the hard-working forward would prove an absolute bargain for an Arsenal manager who remains confident of getting his transfer business done before pre-season begins in July.
Giroud certainly doesn't deserve all the criticism thrown his way, especially as he has converted more big and clear-cut chances than Aguero over the past two seasons. The frustration that lies with Giroud among many supporters is his tendency to waste opportunities - Ozil created 144 chances in the Premier League last season - and perhaps the burden on his shoulders has been too much to carry.
There isn't a plethora of top class goalscoring talent at Arsenal. Danny Welbeck has spent much of his Arsenal career on the treatment table despite his majestic cameo appearances last season. Meanwhile, Theo Walcott's inability to get a consistent run of games in his preferred position and Joel Campbell's performances so far suggest he'll have more success playing on the wing instead of upfront. The need for a striker has been evident since the departure of Robin van Persie to Manchester United in 2012 - Arsenal's last genuine out-and-out goalscorer.
Interestingly, many have been quick to point out that Wenger's decision to sign a player so close to the age of 30 could be an indication that the coming season will be his final hurrah in north London as he aims to win the Premier League title before he retires, in a similar vein to that of Sir Alex Ferguson when he brought Van Persie to Old Trafford as United became champions for a 13th time.
Even if Vardy's time in north London isn't deemed a success by those who judge him, the fee of around £20m (likely to be more as his former club Fleetwood Town receive around £5m) is a steal compared to the other figures floating about on the market right now. Morata was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates until £38m was quoted for his services. The Spaniard scored four goals last season in a campaign where he spent a huge part on the bench as he acclimatised to a different league.
Questions remain over whether Vardy will fit into Arsenal's tactical system. If the Gunners continue to play a more counter attacking game than they currently do then there should be no doubting that the player will be the perfect addition to an already depleted squad. While many of his goals for the Foxes in 2015-16 were from long balls, Vardy is able to add a different dimension to the team through his clever runs in and around the penalty area.
Jack Wilshere has become close with Vardy during their time together at England's training camp and Goal understands he's played a huge part in persuading his compatriot to join him at Arsenal. From Petr Cech to Laurent Koscielny, Granit Xhaka to Alexis Sanchez and Ozil, the squad Wenger will have at his disposal next season will be one that is more than capable of challenging against the Premier League's elite.
Indeed, Arsenal's desperation to land a top goalscorer before Euro 2016 looks to have finally come to an end. Vardy ticks all the requirements needed to become one of the best and the fox in the box Wenger has been crying out for since 2012 could help them finally bring home their first Premier League title in over a decade. For the first time in years, Arsenal are signing the right players at the right time
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