Arsenal 'nicked the wrong scout' from Leicester, says Gary Lineker
One of Leicester's most famous sons, Gary Lineker, has poked fun at Arsenal's poaching of Ben Wrigglesworth, saying assistant manager Steve Walsh was, in fact, responsible for bringing in some of this campaign's standout talent.
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Lineker was asked of his Premier League XI of the season, and quickly credited Walsh as the man who had brought Leicester City's finest to the club: "(Christian) Fuchs, for sure. Underrated, we got him on a free transfer. I love how Arsenal nicked the wrong scout. N'Golo Kante, for sure, Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy. Four at least.
"Steve Walsh is the guy who found these players and bought them in," he added. "I know when he found Mahrez he was sent to watch someone else and came back with Mahrez. He's done a brilliant job and that's been the large key to Leicester's success. As in all clubs, it's about the people you bring in and they've done it on a relatively small budget compared with the giants."
Lineker used to divide his weekends helping his parents on the family fruit and vegetable stall and watching Leicester, for whom he went on to represent at the youth and senior level for nine years. He's not particularly high on many Arsenal fans' preferred pundits though, given his three free-scoring seasons at Tottenham Hotspur later in his career.
He has revelled in the Foxes' unexpected title challenge though, with last Saturday's 3-1 triumph at Manchester City securing a five-point cushion at the Premier League summit.
"I have watched it very closely, they have done it because they have good players," said Lineker. "They have a wonderful spirit and a great dynamism and pace on the counter-attack. The fact that so many players have found form at the same time, while so many of the big clubs have been inconsistent, all things considered. But it's not a fluke because it has been almost a year.
"Right throughout the side, the two centre-backs (Wes Morgan and Robert Huth) are in many ways journeyman pros, good pros, but they have got that wonderful attitude and never-say-die spirit that has culminated in them being at the top of the league."
Many tipped Claudio Ranieri's Leicester for relegation this season. And as early as December Lineker promised on social media that he would host next season's first airing of BBC's Match of the Day in his underpants if the east Midlands side wins the division.
Leicester takes the field at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on Sunday as the bookies' title favourites for the first time this season.