adminLONDON. — Arsenal legend Lauren believes Riyad Mahrez would not be a good signing for his former club. Lauren has questioned whether Arsene Wenger’s current squad would be improved by the possible arrival of Leicester City star Mahrez. Lauren, who won the Premier League twice and three FA Cups at Highbury, is not convinced PFA Player of the Year Mahrez would be a good Gunners signing despite leading Leicester to last year’s title.Speaking to Standard Sport at a Play With A Legend event next to The Emirates, Lauren — who featured in Arsene Wenger’s 2003-04 “Invincibles” side and won Olympic gold at the 2000 Sydney Games — said: “Mahrez is not needed at Arsenal.
“He is a very good player, but how many similar players in terms of technically proficient, creative midfielders and wide-men do Arsenal have already?
“They have Mesut Ozil, they have Jack Wilshere, they have Aaron Ramsey, they have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, they have Theo Walcott — Arsenal don’t need Mahrez.
“Arsenal have always had dynamic players — but they need to change that style a little bit, maybe be a little more direct, with more aggressiveness, and determination — which means players with a different style than Mahrez can offer.”
Arsenal have been linked with a string of top strikers this summer as Wenger looks to finally solve that problem area.
The veteran manager has failed to lure at likes of Jamie Vardy, Gonzalo Higuain and Alvaro Morata to the Emirates while his pursuit of Alexandre Lacazette has hit problems.
Mahrez scored an impressive 19 goals in 41 league and cup appearances last season as 5,000/1 outsiders Leicester clinched the title in May, and has been widely tipped to be on his way to north London this summer.
Wenger will have Olivier Giroud to call upon this term but he came in for criticism last season despite scoring 24 goals.
Lauren believes the French forward just doesn’t have what it takes to lead the Gunners to title glory.
Lauren is concerned Mahrez could be less than effective in an attacking trident led by Giroud.
“Don’t get me wrong. I respect Olivier Giroud and he has an important part to play next season through the goals he does score,” he said.
“But you need people with ‘charisma’. It’s more than about scoring goals, you need a striker with the X-factor . . . with charisma. And despite being a fantastic player Giroud doesn’t have that.”
Lauren also insists Arsenal must sign a new defender before the transfer window slams shut.
The former Mallorca player, who now lives in Seville with property in Ibiza, is also worried about the loss of the club’s German centre-half Per Mertesacker following knee surgery.
With speculation rising that Wenger is targeting the likes of Valencia’s Shkodran Mustafi and former Manchester United centre-half Jonny Evans, Lauren explained. — The Evening Standard.
Online Reporter