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Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images for Premier League
Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images for Premier League

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Gary Lineker says Arsenal once had an ‘unbelievable’ striker who was just like Jamie Vardy

Lucas Arnold
Lucas Arnold

Over the years in the Premier League, Jamie Vardy has definitely proven to be a thorn in Arsenal’s side, especially when he helped Leicester City beat Arsene Wenger to one last title in the 2015/16 campaign.

Of course, that led Arsenal to try and buy Vardy in 2016 according to reports, when the striker ultimately decided to stay at 🌸Leicester.

Of course, fast forward to 20ಞ24, and 37-year-old Vardy is back in the top flight, and he’s already scored against Arsenal’s rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.

In comparison to Vardy, Arsenal no𓆏w have a very different kind of striker in the shape of Kai Havertz, who has been a 𒁏revelation as a number nine.

Havertz can essentially do it all, linking the play, holding the ball up and getting in behind, a talent who is also deeply appreciated by Germany🃏.

Gary Lineker thinks Ian Wright was Arsenal’s very own Jamie Vardy

Speaking on ‘’ podcast, Gary Lineker has now made an interesting comparison, claiming that Ian Wright was just like Vardy during his time at Arsenal.

Wright had an excellent scoring record, just like the Leicester striker, and Lineker thought the duo were two of the bes𓃲t in the game when it came to the dark🌼 arts, so to speak.

11 Jan 1996: Ian Wright of Arsenal holds his hands to his ears during the Coca Cola Cup quarter-final against Newcastle at Highbury Stadium in London. Arsenal won the match 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill/Allsport
11 Jan 1996: Ian Wright of Arsenal holds his hands to his ears during the Coca Cola Cup quarter-final against Newcastle at Highbury Stadium in London. Arsenal won the match 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill/Allsport

READ MORE: Declan Rice and Edu Gaspar left blown away 🦂by news coming out of Arsenal

Res🐈ponding to a fan question, Lineker said: “Who is the best sh–houser in football besides Jamie Vardy? Eℱmi Martinez possibly, he’s brilliant.

“I love some of his an𝔍tics, obviou🎉sly in the World Cup final.”

Alan Shearer added: “Wrighty was good at that in a good way wasn’t he, when hꦐe was playing?”

Lineker: “Oh Wrighty was unbelievable, he was very much like Jamie Vardy, wasn’t꧂ he, Wrighty? 

“In so many ways✃, actually, because he came to the professional game very late as well.

“You know, he’s mid-twenties and has a similar sort of story to Jamie Vardy’s, two great goal scorers 🎀as well.”

Benjamin Sesko can be Arsenal’s next Jamie Vardy

Althoughꦛꦺ Arsenal failed to sign Benjamin Sesko this summer, the young striker remains an excellent option going forward.

Arsenal are still interested in Sesko, and perhaps he could be a Vardy-type solution for the Gunners, a p♈layer with so much athleticism and pace to get in behind and run the channels.

It𝓰 reꦜmains to be seen if Sesko can match the former England striker in terms of his dark arts, a tough ask of anyone.

But with Havertz now Mikel Arteta’s starting nine๊ for t✅he foreseeable future, having an option to turn to like Sesko on the bench would be a natural alternative.

Gabriel Jesus 🔴is an excellent player, but perhaps doesn’t c𒁏omplement Havertz quite as Arteta would like.