Steve Howey doesn’t reckon that Arsenal would be a step down for James Maddison despite the difference in league positions between the Gunners and Leicester in recent seasons.

Maddison has become a key part of the Leicester side that have overtaken Arsenal in the top-six after two consecutive fifth-place finishes.

The two have won the last two FA Cups, but Mikel Arteta’s team came ninth last season, and failed to qualify for Europe for the first time for more than two decades.

In contrast, whilst Leicester squandered another chance to finish in the top-four, they at least secured Europa League football once again.

Despite the current gap between the two teams, the Guardian believe that the England midfielder would be open to moving to the Emirates this summer, with Arsenal themselves looking to bring in a creator after Martin Odegaard returned to Real Madrid.

Given the respective performances of the two clubs since Brendan Rodgers arrived, these links might come as a surprise, but Howey sees it otherwise.

He exclusively told Football FanCast:

“Players obviously want to play in Europe, but let’s be honest, Arsenal are a huge club. Arsenal are looked upon as a prestigious club, the bright lights of London.

“I don’t necessarily think it’s a step down.”