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

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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 2024, 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 now have a very different kind of striker in the shape of Kai Havertz, who has been a revelation 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 ‘The Rest Is Football’ 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 best in the game when it came to the dark arts, so to speak.

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

“I love some of his antics, obviously in the World Cup final.”

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

Although 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 player with so much athleticism and pace to get in behind and run the channels.

It remains 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 nine for the 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 complement Havertz quite as Arteta would like.