As news filtered through of Arsenal meeting Jamie Vardy’s release clause back in June, many people were certainly raised in north London. Signing a 29-year-old striker is not something Arsene Wenger is renowned for, but the veteran coach obviously saw something he wanted in the England international.
Fast-forward two months and Vardy has signed a new deal at Leicester City and is preparing to come up against the team that were desperate to sign him. But while scoring the winner against the Gunners would only increase the ire among Arsenal’s frustrated support, Vardy still has plenty to prove to the wider footballing world before he can be added to the ever-growing list of star names whom Wenger has tried and failed to bring to north London.
Having netted 24 goals to fire the Foxes to their fairytale Premier League title triumph, he saw himself explode into the wider public’s consciousness, with even those who do not identify themselves as a football fan being familiar with his non-league to Premier League story. But after a slightly underwhelming Euro 2016 – though that cannot be entirely pinned on him personally – question marks remain over whether he can retain his form heading into another campaign.
Of course, it would be ridiculous to write him off after just 90 minutes of the season, particularly as Harry Kane’s performances in winning the top scorer award last season put pay to those who doubted his longevity after a slow start to the 2015-16 campaign. But if we are to see a similar return in terms of goals, then how Claudio Ranieri selects his strikers will likely play a huge role in determining it.
Let us see the way Ranieri will arrange his team this coming weekend. If he drops Vardy then that is showing that he is really a one season wonder as many people are saying
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