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LONDON -- When the English Premier League champions take on the runners-up, the stage should be set for a clash between two teams bursting with confidence.That wont be the case when Leicester hosts Arsenal on Saturday.Not after both teams slumped to embarrassing defeats on the opening weekend of the new season. Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri even talked about his teams target of avoiding relegation after a 2-1 loss to newly-promoted Hull, while Arsene Wenger conceded that his Arsenal side just wasnt ready for an opening match that ended in a 4-3 home defeat by Liverpool.Along with the final score, a worrying aspect of Leicesters game was just how much Ranieris defense lacked the protection of combative midfielder NGolo Kante, who has joined Chelsea.Having built last seasons success largely on a counter-attacking game, Leicester also found it harder to change roles and take the game to its opponent.We need to put things right early, look forward to the next game and get a result there, captain Wes Morgan said. Were at our home ground and we want to put on a good display.There was better news off the pitch, though, with Leicesters announcement on Wednesday that Algeria playmaker Riyad Mahrez, a key figure alongside 24-goal Jamie Vardy in last seasons title triumph, had signed a new contract through to 2020.The King Power Stadium is already sold out for a game that will set Vardy, who squandered a series of chances at Hull, against the team he rejected following a transfer offer soon after the end of last season.For their part, traveling Arsenal fans will be hoping that some of the first-team regulars who were rested against Liverpool -- including center-half Laurent Koscielny -- will be back in the side but there will be no expectations of a repeat of their teams remarkable 5-2 victory in the Midlands last season.The 66-year-old Wenger said he may be tempted to take the gamble of reintroducing Koscielny into the side while revealing both Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi face three weeks out after picking up knocks against Liverpool.I will have to take a gamble maybe, but I will still have 48 hours to decide that, Wenger said Thursday. If I have to take a gamble on one, its certainly on him (Koscielny).Wenger also took time to hit back at long-running claims that he is unwilling to spend big money to bring in players.You are absolutely convinced that I do not want to spend the money, but I reassure you we are ready to spend the money, he said. Buying calms the fans, of course, but we have to make sure...it is important to spend money but we have to spend it the right way.Elsewhere, Liverpool heads for newly-promoted Burnley, while Chelsea is away to Watford after Antonio Conte celebrated his first league match as Blues manager with a home win over West Ham on Monday night.Here are some other things to look out for this weekend:---POGBA POISEDThe action starts early, with Manchester United at home to Southampton on Friday night.Buoyed by his teams encouraging 3-1 win at Bournemouth, which included a debut league goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Jose Mourinho takes charge for his first league game at Old Trafford.However, the spotlight looks certain to fall on the return of midfielder Paul Pogba to United from Juventus for a world record fee of $116 million. Suspended for the game at Bournemouth following yellow cards collected in Italy, Pogba has declared himself fit after going all the way to the Euro 2016 final with France last month.You have to ask the manager, but I feel very good and have been training for 10 days. I am OK, Pogba told the Manchester Evening News on Wednesday. I am quite used to this (busy summer). I played the World Cup two years ago when at Juve, and three years ago I was at the under-20s World Cup as well. So I am OK. It is about your body and I have been training on my holidays.---BROKEN HART?The team sheet for Manchester City before Saturdays game at Stoke will reveal if there has been yet more heartbreak for Englands struggling goalkeeper, Joe Hart.Dropped in favor of Willy Caballero for the win over Sunderland and then the midweek victory over Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League playoffs, Harts future is already the subject of intense speculation.New manager Pep Guardiola, who has also dropped City regulars Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri, wants a `sweeper-keeper who can play a supporting role outside the penalty area.Its the latest setback for Hart, who was criticized during Englands lackluster campaign at Euro 2016.---WEST HAM WOESA right-thigh injury sustained by West Hams record signing Andre Ayew in the loss to Chelsea has left the Ghana striker facing a significant rehabilitation period, according to the clubs head of medical and sports science, Stijn Vandenbroucke.Ayew, who was signed for 20.5 million pounds ($26.75 million) from Premier League rival Swansea, had a scan on Wednesday. Vandenbroucke said the medical team would assess the results with a leading consultant before drawing any conclusions.However, Jack Sullivan, the son of West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan, wrote on Twitter: We are devastated that Ayew will be out for about 4 months. He needs surgery. Balenciaga Shoes Clearance . Supported by three-run homers from Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos, the young right-hander went seven strong innings in the Washington Nationals 8-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. Fake Vans Shoes Cheap . 4 Villanova with a 96-68 drubbing on Monday. Wragge hit 9-of-14 from behind the arc, matching Kyle Korvers school record for 3-pointers in a game set in 2003, as Creighton (16-3, 6-1 Big East broke a conference record with 21 treys in the rout. http://www.fakeyeezyscheap.com/wholesale-air-max-270.html . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. Yeezy Boost Fake For Sale .Y. -- Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse have another World Cup gold medal after winning the two-women bobsled race on Saturday in Lake Placid, N. Yeezy Boost 380 Alien . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. NEW ORLEANS -- Five former New York Jets teammates were pallbearers at the funeral for football player Joe McKnight, who was shot and killed Dec. 1 during a road-rage incident in suburban New Orleans.Joe had the ability to make everybody feel he was your best friend, former Jets linebacker Bart Scott told WVUE-TV (http://bit.ly/2gF6CDx).Several ministers spoke during the funeral service attended by hundreds of people at New Home Ministries, news media reported. Those who attended received programs with photos of McKnight, 28, his family, and his 7-year-old son, Jaiden, Nola.com ` The Times-Picayune reported (http://bit.ly/2gzeEiZ).Bishop William McPherson told the crowd that he had baptized McKnight and several of his siblings, The Advocate reported (http://bit.ly/2hgez2K). Joe is with the Lord, McPherson said.Ronald Gasser, 54, has been arrested on a manslaughter charge in McKnights death.McKnight played for the Jets from 2010 to 2013. His pallbearers were former teammates Scott, Sione Pouha, Antonio Cromartie, Willie Colon, and DBrickashaw. Another pallbearer was LenDale White, who played at the University of Southern California prior to McKnights arrival.As the casket and mourners headed frrom the church to Restlawn Cemetery in suburban Avondale, the Free Spirit Brass Band played Ill Fly Away.ddddddddddddMourners included Darryl Pierce, 58, who wore a Jets hat and shirt and green pants to honor McKnight. He said he remembered McKnight playing for John Curtis Christian High School against his own sons team, Carver High School.He used to put on a show against us. Against everybody, Pierce said.Anytime he touched the ball he could take it the distance and that was exciting about Joe, said Mark Sanchez, who played with McKnight at USC and for the Jets. But we all remember him joking around all the time, and the warm heart he had.Earlier classmates were there, too.We shared ACT math together his senior year. He had big plans. He would talk about everything he said he was going to do, Michelle Maddie, a high-school classmate, told WWL-TV (http://bit.ly/2gEYnaG). He said, `Before I leave this Earth, the world will know who I am. And I think everybody does.---This story has been corrected to reflect that White played at USC prior to McKnight, not with the Jets. ' ' '