Two unexpected stars of the opening Premier League weekend come head-to-head this Saturday as West Ham United host Leicester City.
Riyad Mahrez scored twice to sink Sunderland in the Foxes’ 4-2 victory, while 16-year-old Reece Oxford stifled the Arsenal attack on his Premier League debut as West Ham secured a shock 2-0 away win at the Emirates.
The pair are set to meet in what few would have predicted to be this weekend’s must-see battle. Opta-powered fantasy football game www.oulala.com have taken a detailed look at each of their performances before they lock horns.
Riyad Mahrez, one of the stars from Leicester’s ‘Great Escape’ last season, shone in the opening weekend win over Sunderland. The Algerian hit a seven minute brace in the first-half, a header from a Marc Albrighton cross and a penalty he won himself after being brought down just inside the area. Mahrez was denied a deserved hat-trick, as a further shot hit the post.
A strike accuracy of 60% was complimented by a 75% success-rate for attempted take-ons. The 24-year-old created four chances for his team mates and successfully made 19 of an attempted 24 passes, resulting in a 79% pass completion.
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A month before Oxford collects his GCSE results, the 16-year-old was tested against Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. However, it was Oxford that did the educating. Sitting in front of the West Ham defence, he mopped up waves of Arsenal attacks throughout the game.
Oxford won two tackles as well as the same number of interceptions, blocks and clearances. He completed 17 of his 18 passes, resulting in an outstanding completion-rate of 94%, the best from any player on the pitch.
Can West Ham dish out an Oxford education to Leicester? Or will Mahrez be the fox-in-the-box once again?
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