Riayd Mahrez’s Arsenal transfer admission and anger at missed opportunity

Riyad Mahrez turned 30 on the weekend and celebrated with an assist in Manchester City's 1-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates.

The victory saw the Citizen retain their 10-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, ensuring they are still very much on course to win a third title in four seasons.

Mahrez is an important player for Pep Guardiola at Man City, even if he isn't one of the first names on the Spaniard's teamsheet.

For a while the Algerian was Man City's most expensive ever signing, showing the lengths Guardiola went to land him from Leicester City.

But by Mahrez's own admission, things could have been rather different.

Back in 2016 the midfielder was linked with a move to Arsenal, and the deal was very nearly complete before the Foxes pulled the plug.

Leicester City's decision to deny him a 'dream move' left Mahrez ruing a missed opportunity for some time.

Mahrez told France Football in 2019: "After [winning] the title, if I'd left for a top team, it wouldn't have been the same story.

"For me, it's clear that I lost two years at the highest level. I lost two years! Because instead of arriving at City at 27, I could have been there at 24, 25.

"Leicester blocked me. They told me: 'You're not leaving, you're not leaving'.

"My agent had spoken to [Arsene] Wenger who really wanted me. It was nearly all done with Arsenal in 2016. I was really frustrated.

"It wasn't easy to go from being the best player in the Premier League to being a part of a team fighting against relegation.

"It's not the same job. Everyone is waiting for you around the corner."

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On paper Manchester City scraped past Arsenal on Sunday, but the contest was incredibly one-sided and showed the gulf in class between the two sides.

City, as aforementioned, are runaway Premier League leaders while Arsenal are a team in transition, floundering down in tenth.

Mahrez may have been understandably gutted at seeing his big-money move fall down in 2016, but as he turns 30, he'll no doubt now see it as a blessing in disguise.

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