Arsenal Opinion: Why the Gunners should make a move for James Maddison
Back in May 2018, a report from Birmingham Mail claimed Arsenal were interested in signing James Maddison, who was then playing for Norwich City in the Championship. However, a move never materialised and instead, the 22-year-old joined Leicester City last summer.
James Maddison enjoyed a fantastic 2017/18 season in the Championship, although Norwich City failed to get promoted. His rip-roaring season in the Championship attracted a lot of Premier League interest but he made the move to Leicester ahead of the start of the 2018/19 Premier League season.
Inside just a season in the Premier League, he has established himself as one of the exciting young talents of English football. Maddison is lighting up the top-flight, having already scored seven goals and created six assists in his debut season at King Power Stadium.
Despite having spent less than a year with Leicester, the English man looks bound for a top-six side. That being said, Arsenal surely should reignite their interest in Maddison and try signing him at the end of the season.
Aaron Ramsey is due to depart the Gunners this summer after he signed a pre-contract agreement with Juventus at the turn of the year. Arsenal certainly will be on the lookout for a new midfielder to replace the departing Ramsey as Unai Emery looks to build a team capable of challenging for the title.
Mesut Ozil has been in and out of Emery’s team as the World Cup winner has failed to do his fair share of defensive work which his manager expects out of him. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has shown some form of late, although the Daily Mail claims Arsenal are keen to offload the Armenian in the summer to trim the squad’s wage bill.
Offloading Mkhitaryan as well as Ozil, if possible, should be a step in the right direction as they don’t quite fit in Emery’s system. Their sales will not only reduce the wage bill but also free up some funds which Emery should reinvest in signing Maddison from Leicester.
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Blessed with excellent technique, vision and ability to create things out of nothing, Maddison would be a perfect in Emery’s system at the Emirates.
Not only is he creative and has the capability to pick the right pass in the final third, but also his work-rate is commendable. Seemingly possessing a greater sharpness and good speed in the final third, the 22-year-old would be an excellent fix to the Gunners’ creative problems.
Verdict
There is no doubt that James Maddison has the talent to flourish at an elite European club, but will Arsenal make Leicester sell one of their prized assets after just a season? Only time will tell.
