Arsenal have signed a Riyad Mahrez lookalike after failing to sign a Jamie Vardy lookalike having failed to sign Jamie Vardy, we can exclusively reveal.

Arsène Wenger tried to lure the Vardy lookalike to the Emirates after being snubbed by the real Vardy, who signed a new contract with Leicester.

Despite reports that he was all set to move, it turned out the Vardy lookalike had been using the Gunners as a bargaining tool to secure a better deal with his agency.

However, Wenger has been quick to look elsewhere and looks set to land the Mahrez lookalike after agreeing a nominal fee with Susan Scott Celebrity Lookalikes Ltd.

Although the deal was reported as being done and dusted just a few paragraphs ago, we now understand that this has been downgraded to ‘not done and dusted’.

Cover is urgently required for Alexis Sánchez, who has reportedly run himself into the ground after refusing to leave the pitch at the end of the Copa América final.

Wenger would have preferred to sign the real Riyad Mahrez but balked at the 11p per minute charge that calling Leicester would have incurred.

If a deal for the Mahrez lookalike falls through, Arsenal will turn their attentions to a cardboard cutout of Danny Simpson.