This season has been a prime example of why the Premier League is the best league in the world. Leicester City are at the top of the league – this time last year they were bottom. Whereas last season’s winners Chelsea, haven’t been able to get out of the bottom half of the table all season.
Leicester have been the biggest surprise of the season and it will be interesting to see if they can continue their fine form and cause the biggest upset in English football history – Winning the Premier League. They have some stand-out players in their squad – Vardy and Mahrez in-particular have been outstanding and there is no-doubt Leicester will struggle to hold onto their star players in the summer.
If Leicester do go onto win the league, surely the PFA player of the season will go to Vardy or Mahrez, however Mesut Ozil will be hoping to change that. The Arsenal midfielder has been an integral figure in their team this season. Ozil has 16 assists already this season and he will be hoping to break Thierry Henry’s record of 20 assists from the 2002/03 season. The German must break that record if he has any chance of winning the PFA player of the year, because the way Vardy and Mahrez have been performing for Leicester, they currently look the favourites for the prestigious award.
Jamie Vardy recently said he is simply “enjoying the ride” and is not even thinking about Leicester City winning the Premier League. The Foxes are top of the table by five points and visit Arsenal on Sunday having beaten Manchester City 3-1 on Saturday. Vardy didn’t score against City, however he did stretch the City defence with his intelligent running and created chance after chance – which led to their third goal. Vardy is currently the top scorer in the Premier League on 18 goals and he has been a revelation this season. His story from non-league football to the top of the Premier League is incredible and there is no-doubt he will be representing England at Euro 2016 in France this summer.
Mesut Ozil’s form since he joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2013 has been slightly up and down. After signing for £42.5 – Arsenal’s transfer record – a lot was expected of the German but he disappointed in his first season, often getting dropped by Arsene Wenger. However, last season was a big improvement and this season Ozil is playing the best football of his career. He has made the most assists in the league with 16 so far – four short of Henry’s record – and he will need to break that record to stand any chance of beating Vardy and Mahrez to the coveted PFA player of the year.
Riyad Mahrez scored a fantastic goal against Manchester City on Saturday and has been outstanding ever since the opening day win against Sunderland when the Algerian netted two goals. Since Claudio Ranieri became Leicester manager, he has helped Mahrez with his development and the Algerian has improved as an all-round player considering two years ago Mahrez was playing in the French second division. Leicester will struggle to hold onto their star creative player in the summer, no doubt many of the top teams in the league will be scouting the Leicester player. The Foxes only paid £400k for Mahrez, and if they do sell him, they will earn a huge profit.
Jamie Vardy and Mesut Ozil have been fantastic this season, but my pick right now would be Riyad Mahrez. The Algerian has been exceptional, he can score goals and create goals and his performances so far has earned him my vote.