Why this £40m World cup winner over Riyad Mahrez could be an ideal signing for Arsenal

Julian Draxler vs Riyad Mahrez – Who Should Arsenal Target To Replace Alexis Sanchez?

With the January window set to commence from tomorrow, Arsenal are getting increasingly closer to losing star player Alexis Sanchez. They have failed to tie him down to a new contract and with his existing deal set to expire next summer, the Gunners are at a serious risk of losing the Chilean. He was expected to leave over the summer itself but the move did not materialise and he had to stay back at the Emirates. However, the player is clearly not happy and that has reflected on his performances this season.

Regardless, the winter window will present an opportunity for the player to leave and while it remains to be seen if he chooses to exit now or next summer, the Gunners need to step up their options in the front. For that, they will need to find a player that can fill the void left behind by Sanchez. Latest reports have linked Riyad Mahrez and Julian Draxler to the club but who should Arsenal target? Let’s take a look at their stats.

Riyad Mahrez vs Julian Draxler

Before going ahead, it is important to note that Mahrez enjoys a more crucial role at Leicester. The £40m Draxler has found it tough to seal a spot for himself at Paris Saint-Germain, hence making it likely for him to be keen on joining Arsenal.

In 22 appearances for Leicester across competitions this season, Mahrez has spent 1620 minutes on the field and scored 7 goals. He also provided 5 assists and picked up a yellow card in the process. He averages 2.2 shots per game and has a pass success rate of 79.3%. Winning about 0.9 aerial duels on an average, Mahrez did pick up the Man of The Match award on one occasion in the Premier League.

Draxler, on the other hand, has also made 22 appearances for PSG across competitions but he has spent only 1160 minutes on the field. He has scored 2 goals for the club in the Ligue 1 and chipped in with 4 goals in the Coupe De France. The player provided 4 assists and received 2 yellow cards so far and he averages 0.6 shots per game. He boasts of a pass success rate of 92.4% and wins about 0.5 aerial duels on an average.

Verdict

Given the situation, Draxler does seem like a better player. Despite not receiving enough time on the field, his numbers are more or less similar to those of Mahrez’s. Moreover, he displayed supreme leadership skills when he led Germany to victory in the Confederations Cup earlier this year and could prove to be a wonderful long-term option for Arsenal.