Mahrez: Pace Is Key

- Riyad Mahrez hopes Leicester City can use their pace to devastating effect against Arsenal on Saturday 

- The winger is excited at the prospect of testing himself against the Gunners 

- Mahrez is the Barclays Premier League’s joint-top scorer with five goals 

- The Leicester City supporters could have a big role to play according to Mahrez 

Riyad Mahrez is backing Leicester City’s pace to cause Arsenal problems when the two sides meet in the Barclays Premier League at King Power Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

The Gunners lie two points behind the fourth-placed Foxes in the league table and will undoubtedly provide Claudio Ranieri’s team with their toughest challenge of the season so far. 

Mahrez has been one of the biggest weapons in City’s attacking armoury this campaign and leads the Premier League scoring charts this term with a brilliant five goals in six games, but the Gunners have a plethora of threats themselves. 

The Foxes boast the Premier League’s only remaining unbeaten record this season though, and Mahrez is looking to do some damage to the Gunners with the pace City have on the counter attack. 

<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" ><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" >“I’m very excited about this game,” Mahrez told Foxes Player HD. “Everyone else is as well. Arsenal are a big team and Arsenal at home at our stadium will be a great game. </div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" ><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" >“[They will have a lot of the ball but] I think it’s good for us because we’re a counter attacking team. We could leave the ball to them and then when we take the ball we can go on the counter with some good play at the front. </div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" ><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" >“We have fast players and we have to use this to maybe score one or two goals.” </div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" ><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" >Mahrez’s own form has seen him grab the headlines in recent weeks, and although opposition defenders may be paying him a little closer attention as a result, he thinks it could be a good thing for his game. </div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" ><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" >He added: “I feel that but it’s OK. That makes me more careful in the game, so maybe it’s good for me. I have to keep going and help the team win this game on Saturday.” </div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" ><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" >One thing that is guaranteed on Saturday afternoon is the support of the fans. Mahrez has spoken at length in the past about just how much of a difference they make – at home and away – and he’s banking on that same atmosphere to spur them on at King Power Stadium against the Gunners. </div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" ><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" >“We really need the fans,” Mahrez added. “Our fans are fantastic and I want them to be like they are in every game – always behind us and pushing us. </div><div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;" ><br /></div><div ><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">“In return we will give the best we can to them and to this Football Club.”</span></span></div><div ><a href="http://www.player.lcfc.com" target="_blank"><img xlink:href="tcm:0-2692753" title="PlayerHD2015_Banner" alt="PlayerHD2015_Banner" style="width: 480px; height: 100px;" /></a><br /></div>