Should they fail to win against Leicester, it will be very hard for Arsene Wenger to placate fans, who are already on his back following a lack of transfer activity this summer.
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Leicester sent out a statement of intent by tying down star winger Mahrez – victor of the PFA Player of the Year award last season – to a new contract until June 2020 on Wednesday, despite reported interest from Arsenal and Barcelona.
Jamie Vardy was courted by Arsenal but soon thereafter committed his future to the club, as did Kasper Smeichel, Wes Morgan, Danny Drinkwater and Ranieri.
After the 4-3 defeat to Liverpool, Wenger claimed that it was impossible for those players to be fit enough to start the match, but said that the inexperience of the club’s young players cost Arsenal dear.
Jamie Vardy had an opportunity to make it 1-0 after a mix-up in the Arsenal midfield but the England striker blazed high and wide.
Mahrez scored 17 goals and won the PFA Player of the Year award as the Foxes won the Premier League by 10 points, but Ranieri wants more.
Leicester opened the season with a 2-1 loss at Hull and so far hasn’t repeated the dynamic performances that helped the team surge to an unexpected title triumph last campaign. He was a revelation last season and had been linked with moves to a number of clubs over the summer, most noptably Arsenal and Barcelona – though neither is reported to have made a bid for the player. It’s normal other managers are looking at Leicester players, there’s no message – we are building and want to stay together.
The Foxes face Arsenal on Saturday and have defender Robert Huth available after serving a three-game suspension.
The last time the reigning top flight champions lost their first two league games was in 1981-82 (Aston Villa).
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“I watched Arsenal’s first match”.
