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. Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Replica For Sale . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Yeezy 350 v2 Static Fake . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. http://www.yeezys350cheap.com/fake-yeezy-350-2019-wholesale.html . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His juice; his aggression all night long. Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Semi Frozen Yellow/Raw-Steel Red .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Yeezy Boost 350 v2 Core Black/White . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. The Pac-12 got off to a decent start on opening weekend, with seven teams winning their opening games.Week 2 will be highlighted by one of college footballs fiercest rivalries, a few tough matchups and what should be relatively easy games for several teams.A few things to look for in Week 2 of the Pac-12:GAME OF THE WEEK: BYU at Utah. The Holy War is one of the nastiest rivalries in the country, so much so that Utah basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak called for the hoops series to be cancelled. The football teams have contracts signed through 2020 and tentative dates through 2022, so that side of the rivalry isnt ending anytime soon. The Utes and Cougars met in the 2015 Las Vegas Bowl, which Utah won 35-28 after defensive tackle Seni Fauonuku called BYU a dirty team, further stoking the rivalry. Neither team was particularly sharp in its season opener. BYU pulled off a last-minute drive to beat Arizona 18-16 and Utah wasnt exactly dominating despite beating FCS Southern Utah 24-0. Regardless of how theyve been playing, this game will be intense.BEST MATCHUP: Arizona States secondary vs. Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes II. Arizona States rebuilt defensive secondary was uneven in its first test, allowing Chase Cookus of FCS Northern Arizona to throw for 369 yards and a touchdown. Mahomes and Texas Techs Air Raid offense could prresent an even bigger problem.dddddddddddd Mahomes, whos been called a dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate, threw for 483 yards and four touchdowns in 3 1/2 quarters of the Red Raiders 69-17 win over Stephen F. Austin.INSIDE THE NUMBERS: USCs 11 a.m. start time against Utah State is its earliest kickoff since at least the 1950s. ... Oregon State and No. 7 Stanford have an off week. ... Colorados Sefo Liufau became the schools all-time leading passer last week, hitting 7,715 yards after throwing for 318 against rival Colorado State. ... UCLAs Josh Rosen had his seventh career 300-yard game in a loss to Texas A&M last week, tying him for third on the schools all-time list.IMPACT PLAYER: Luke Falk, Washington State. Falk led the nation in passing average last season at 380.5 yards per game, finishing with 4,566 yards and 38 touchdowns overall. He opened the season by hitting 41 of 51 passes for 418 yards and four TDs in the Cougars 45-42 loss to FCS Eastern Washington last weekend. The junior could have another big game against a Boise State team that had seven defensive players make their first or second career start against Louisiana last week.---Compiled by AP College Football Writer John Marshall ' ' '
