Arsenal set to beat Chelsea to the signing of star midfielder, as player jets in to London

Arsenal target Riyad Mahrez was in action for Leicester City in a pre-season friendly against Celtic which ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday, the Algerian international opened the scoring with an amazing solo goal.

Mahrez has been linked with an imminent move to The Emirates in recent days, and it was reported early last week by the Independent that the Algerian international has agreed to join Arsenal and it seems Wenger is more than ready to push the deal through.

Chelsea and Barcelona have also been linked with a move for the 25-year-old ace but it appears that they have both pursued other targets and dropped out of the race, leaving Arsenal in pole position.

TalkSport presenter Georgie Bingham via her Twitter account claimed she was on a fight with Mahrez which was flying to London from Glasgow, after the game with Celtic, saying:

Interestingly 5 of the Leicester City team are on my plane back from Glasgow. So I’ll just ask Riyad Mahrez what he’s doing. Yes? #LCFC #AFC

— Georgie Bingham (@georgiebingham) July 23, 2016

Providing @British_Airways do the business I’ll be back, 7am, @talkSPORTWSB with Perry Groves as MQ on hols. (& any Mahrez gossip I can get)

— Georgie Bingham (@georgiebingham) July 23, 2016

Not a cats chance in hell I’ll actually ask Mahrez btw. I’ll tell him I carried a watermelon (Cultural reference prob lost on football fans)

— Georgie Bingham (@georgiebingham) July 23, 2016

No. No selfies. I hate being asked for them and I guarantee half this plane will ask him before the night is out. Poor blighters. #Mahrez

— Georgie Bingham (@georgiebingham) July 23, 2016

If Mahrez is leaving Scotland to do transfer business then why is Schmeicel with him?

— Georgie Bingham (@georgiebingham) July 23, 2016

You say it like I’m imagining it. I’m a sports presenter. I know what Riyad Mahrez & Kasper Schmeicel look like! https://t.co/YqF24sHdPP

— Georgie Bingham (@georgiebingham) July 23, 2016

To clarify.

On Glasgow-London plane.

Mahrez/Schmeicel on it.

However

Not going anywhere as lost a passenger.

Mahrez not lost. ðŸ˜„

— Georgie Bingham (@georgiebingham) July 23, 2016

Genuinely why would I make that up?

In other news the missing passenger has been identified. https://t.co/adlYaYWpB1

— Georgie Bingham (@georgiebingham) July 23, 2016

Does that mean he is heading to the Emirates, could he have been in London to sign for Chelsea, or could he be having a couple of days in London ahead of Leicester’s friendly games this week?

Even if Mahrez is willing to join Arsenal, Claudio Ranieri could be a stumbling block to the deal as he is confident Mahrez will remain at the King Power Stadium next season, Ranieri is quoted as saying after the match against Celtic:“I’m confident, of course [Mahrez will stay],”

Personally, I think a move for Mahrez will no doubt improve our attack and with his pace, clever movement and brilliant technique he would be the perfect foil for Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

Published:
25th July 2016 : 17:15pm