Gary Lineker says Jamie Vardy would walk into Arsenal’s starting XI

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The Gunners missed out on the England striker during the summer.

Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy celebrates scoring their first goal

Gary Lineker believes Jamie Vardy would have effortlessly found his way into Arsenal’s starting XI had he chose to make the move to the Emirates Stadium, according to ESPN.

The Gunners had agreed a fee with Premier League champions Leicester to sign Vardy earlier in the summer, but the England international opted to sign a new four-year deal to stay at the King Power Stadium.

Vardy, who scored 24 goals in the Premier League last season, has begun the new campaign with two in his first four games.

This is in stark comparison to Arsenal’s forward line, including Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sanchez and new signing Lucas Perez, who have managed to muster just one strike between them.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

There was concern from some quarters as to whether the 29-year-old would command a place in Arsenal’s starting XI, but former Foxes striker Lineker has no doubt that Vardy would have gone straight into Wenger’s line-up.

“I think he’d walk into Arsenal’s team” he told ESPN.

“They’re [Arsenal’s centre forwards] fine but they’re not as prolific as Vardy. They are not as quick as Vardy and they don’t give you the options Vardy does.

“All players believe they will start anyway if they’ve got anything about them. You can tell Vardy is full of confidence.”

Lineker, who began his career at boyhood club Leicester in 1978, also expressed his delight that Vardy committed his long-term future to the club.

Gary Lineker in the stands

“It was a big moment, and it was a very surprising moment,” he continued.

“I thought it said a lot about him as well.

“It’s not all about the big pay day and stuff — especially at this time in his career as it was perhaps his one and only chance of moving to a bigger club. It was a really significant moment.

“It spoke a lot about him and the club and the fact there are ambitions at Leicester.”

Arsenal’s loss is certainly Leicester’s gain, with Vardy picking up where he left off from last season and begin the current campaign in scintillating fashion.

Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy