Jamie Vardy to Arsenal: Gunners legend Robert Pires backs striker to shine if he chooses to leave Leicester

James Benge15 June 2016

Robert Pires is convinced Jamie Vardy could be just the striker Arsenal need should he choose to depart Leicester City.

Having activated his £20million release clause Arsenal have verbally agreed a three-year, £120,000-a-week deal for Vardy, with an option for a further 12 months, but await the 29-year-old’s final decision on whether he will leave the champions for the Emirates.

One consideration playing on Vardy’s mind is whether he would be guaranteed a regular starting spot ahead of Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck but Pires, who scored 84 goals for Arsenal and won two Premier League titles between 2000 and 2006, has no doubt Vardy could make the grade in London.

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"There is no reason why it couldn't work out for Vardy," he told the Daily Mail. "He scored a lot of goals in the Premier League last season and is now known around the world.

"He has the ability, comes across as very hard-working which Arsenal like, and he's a great finisher.

"There's a lot more pressure with playing for a big club, so it will be a step up."

Arsenal have already made one of the summer’s biggest signings, paying £34m for Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka last month in a bid to improve their midfield.

Arsene Wenger has said he will target two further quality reinforcements, with centre forward and central defence the areas most likely to see expenditure, and Pires is convinced that Arsenal are close to finding the squad they need to compete at the top of the table.

“Granit Xhaka is a great signing and to be honest, I'm not sure how many more players are needed,” Pires said.

“A lot is said about Arsenal going forward and if you look at goals scored, they were only a few goals off finishing top of that chart, Vardy's addition could help next year.”

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