Jamie Vardy’s last goal came against Manchester City in a 4-2 win over six weeks. The hat-trick he scored in that game make up half the goals he has scored this season, with the forward only hitting the back of the net in four matches so far this campaign.
It is obviously a huge turnaround since last season when he had already scored 16 of his 24 league goals, including a record breaking scoring streak of 11 consecutive league games. It was unsurprising then that in the summer that there was interest in the England international from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. It was more surprising though that Arsenal made a bid.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had been made aware that a clause in Vardy’s contract allowed him to talk to clubs in the Champions League if they offered £20m. After Arsenal matched the amount however, Vardy opted against a move to the Emirates.
In some quarters, the rejection by Vardy was seen as a snub, but if we look at this campaign, it seems that Arsenal were very much the ones who dodged a bullet. The player’s decision was understandable in many respects. Vardy knew he would be playing for a team that played a very different style of football to Leicester.
Dominating territory and possession, Vardy would not have found the space in behind like he did with the Foxes last season, and it has been shown this campaign, that when teams sit deep against Leicester, Vardy does not have an answer.
In hindsight, a £20m outlay for a player who only really has had two high scoring seasons in five league campaigns, looks like pretty poor business. The striker struggled to adapt to Championship life in 2012 after moving from Conference side Halifax.
After just scoring five times in his first campaign, he did manage to improve with 16 goals in the following campaign. He had similar struggles during his first Premier League season when Leicester were fighting relegation under Nigel Pearson. Vardy hit the back of the net just five times during that season.
Still, his astonishing achievements of last season should not be dismissed out of hand as merely as an aberration. The 30 year old has worked tirelessly to improve his game over the years, and has an incredibly high work rate for a striker. Wenger was surely looking for a different option up front, different from the false nine approach of Alexis Sanchez and the target man of Olivier Giroud.
It looks like the decision to leave the deal was probably mutually beneficial for both parties. Vardy remained at a club where he could play regularly, and Arsenal could save their money to invest in a player more suited to a bit part role.
Most of the £20m reserved for Vardy went on the purchase of Lucas Perez from Deportivo la Coruna. Two years younger than Vardy, the Spaniard has many of the similar characteristics; the ability to run in behind and play the role of goal poacher.
At £17m, he has already paid back some of his investment by his contributions in a Gunners shirt. Six goals and five assists in eight starts for Arsenal is certainly not a bad record. It is difficult to say whether Vardy would have improved on that and it seems that so far at least, the money has gone to good use.
It would be foolish to say he is a one season wonder. There is clear talent there, and he may still pick up his form for Leicester this campaign. Yet, the move to Arsenal never really felt like the right one, and from a Gunners’ perspective, it seems the striker’s decision to turn down Arsene Wenger and remain at the Premier League champions actually has worked out quite well for the club.
