Arsenal have no need to sign Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez this summer because they have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott, according to former Gunners defender Lauren.
Arsene Wenger's side have been heavily linked with an interest in the PFA Players' Player of the Year for 2015-16 and the Frenchman refused to deny his side had made a bid for the star.
However, Lauren, who won two Premier League titles with Arsenal, insists the Algeria international does not offer much more than the likes of Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“He is a very good player, but how many similar players in terms of technically proficient, creative midfielders and wide men do Arsenal have already?" he said.
“They have Mesut Ozil, they have Jack Wilshere, they have Aaron Ramsey, they have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, they have Theo Walcott - Arsenal don’t need Mahrez.
“Arsenal have always had dynamic players – but they need to change that style a little bit, maybe be a little more direct, with more aggressiveness and determination – which means players with a different style than Mahrez can offer.”
The former Cameroon international does, however, believe they need an upgrade on Olivier Giroud.
“Don’t get me wrong. I respect Olivier Giroud and he has an important part to play next season through the goals he does score,” he added.
“But you need people with ‘charisma’. It’s more than about scoring goals, you need a striker with the X-factor… with charisma. And despite being a fantastic player Giroud doesn’t have that.”
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