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Vardy would be starting for England had he signed for Arsenal, says Collymore

Pundit and former footballer Stan Collymore before the game (Reuters)
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The Leicester City star was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal this summer.

Leicester City's Jamie VardyLeicester City’s Jamie Vardy

Writing in the Mirror, Stan Collymore has claimed that Jamie Vardy would be a starter for England had he joined Arsenal in the summer transfer window.

The striker was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates this summer after they activated his release clause.

He elected to leave the Gunners waiting, though, before deciding to sign a new contract with the Premier League champions and stay at the Kingpower Stadium.

Leicester City's Jamie VardyLeicester City’s Jamie Vardy

It was a move that surprised some given he is unlikely to be offered the chance to join one of the traditional ‘big’ sides.

And Collymore has further suggested he should have made the move as he would now be starting regularly for England.

“What if he had ‘risked’ moving to Arsenal, one of England’s biggest clubs, on a seriously fat salary and out of what is a relative comfort zone in the East Midlands?” he wrote in the Mirror.

“I’m adamant that had he done so, he’d be ahead of Danny Sturridge, Wayne Rooney and even Harry Kane in the England pecking order.”

“There’s definitely still a snobbery around England when it comes to the so-called big teams, and I’m certain that’s why Vardy finds himself third-choice, maybe even No4 central striker for the national side.”

England's Jamie VardyEngland’s Jamie Vardy

For now, it remains to be seen whether Vardy can find the kind of form that he enjoyed last season once again.

He has struggled to replicate his performances so far with just two goals in the Premier League to his name so far.

At the same stage last season he had already managed six goals in his first seven games so he does have some work to do to catch up.

If he fails to do so then Arsenal will likely be glad that they ended up missing out on his signature this summer.

Leicester City's Jamie VardyLeicester City’s Jamie Vardy