Mahrez, named the PFA Player of the Year after Leicester’s stunning Premier League win last season, has followed Jamie Vardy, Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan and Andy King in committing his future to the King Power Stadium. Leicester City fans have expected a lot from them considering they won the league last time, but they should start from one thing and then move on to the next.
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Fresh from their title-winning season, Claudio Ranieri’s side faced an early setback after an opening day defeat to Premier League new-boys Hull City. Aaron Ramsey who also played in the semi-finals was fielded against Liverpool but was forced off after 60 minutes due to an injury.
‘I hope everybody plays with an extra edge, ‘ said the Italian, while rejecting the suggestion Vardy might have something extra to prove. “Either you give the player a normal holiday and they are not ready to start the championship, or you don’t give them a holiday and they are mentally and physically jaded”, he said. “He has been here for a long time and it is important for him to stay with us”. The game was probably the contender for the best game of the season as both teams did not give up till the last.
The Wales worldwide had to play understudy to Drinkwater and Kante last season but started in Leicester’s opening-day 2-1 defeat at Hull with Kante now at Chelsea.
Ranieri will be boosted by the return of defender Robert Huth after his three-match ban for violent conduct following a tangle with Marouane Fellaini at Manchester United at the end of last season.
Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez will be anxious to improve their record of 0 goals between them so far. After tormenting the Gunners on the pitch past year, scoring all three goals Leicester scored, and off the pitch this summer, the Englishman will hop to ruin Arsenal’s day yet again.
“What matters is that once you commit somewhere you give 100 per cent, that is what it is to be professional, he has made a decision to stay at Leicester and I respect that fully”.
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Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal’s coach, states that he is tempted to gamble on bringing Giroud, Koscielny and Ozil back into the squad early.
