Jamie Vardy is Leicester’s biggest legend – but he’s one of main reasons why they’re doomed for relegation

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Leicester's continued reliance on Jamie Vardy is a reason they are in the relegation zone - he's too old to be their leading striker.

That's the opinion of ex-Foxes defender Martin Keown, who believes that despite the 38-year-old's legendary status, he should have been replaced by now.

Leicester striker Vardy has been the club's leading man since joining in 2012

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Leicester striker Vardy has been the club's leading man since joining in 2012Credit: Getty

Vardy, though, remains Leicester's main man up top - starting 22 out of their 24 Premier League games this term.

He is in his 13th season at the King Power Stadium, and is approaching 200 goals for the club since joining from Fleetwood in 2012.

With eight goals this term, he is the club's top scorer, but has found the back of the net just once since December 8.

His form has coincided with Leicester winning just once in their last nine top-flight fixtures, with the club, under manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, losing on eight occasions.

A lack of firepower has been Leicester's problem, with Vardy's back-up Patson Daka, who has scored just once this season, limited to cameos off the bench.

Leicester failed to bring in a new centre-forward during the winter transfer window, with the club seemingly destined for an instant return to the Championship as they sit 18th in the table.

And with the Foxes set to host Arsenal in Saturday's early kick-off - live on talkSPORT - things could get a lot worse for the Midlands outfit.

Speaking to talkSPORT.com ahead of the fixture, Keown was asked to assess what Leicester's problem is, with Van Nistelrooy overseeing nine defeats from his 13 games in charge.

To which the Gunners legend said: "I think what their problem is when you're relying on a 38-year-old striker in Vardy.

"You get to those sort of numbers and that sort of age, it's quite remarkable and a testament to him that he's still there as almost the lone player.

Vardy has scored just one Premier League goal from his last eight outings

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Vardy has scored just one Premier League goal from his last eight outingsCredit: Getty

The ex-England international is the club's top scorer this campaign

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The ex-England international is the club's top scorer this campaign

"There's one or two others maybe that have won a Premier League and FA Cup in their history.

"What he's done there is remarkable.

"[But] he shouldn't still be their best striker. They should have developed that by now.

"That's an issue for them, getting people to put the ball in the back of the net.

"They've not really had the expenditure, things have sort of slowed down in that direction in the last few years."

And while Keown has had his differences with Manchester United icon Van Nistelrooy in the past, he has defended him despite Leicester's poor form, though conceded he must start getting points.

Vardy is third on the list of Leicester's all-time top scorers

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Vardy is third on the list of Leicester's all-time top scorers

Keown remarked: "I thought Ruud van Nistelrooy has handled himself very well.

"He seems to be very calm, if he's had a word with the players, he's done it well out of the way of the public.

"Which I think is right and proper and would be the same as what he would have learned from Sir Alex Ferguson [at Manchester United].

"So he will see this [Arsenal vs Leicester] as a game that he will desperately want to win given the history with him and this fixture.

"He's filled in at Manchester United [as caretaker boss], but he's gone out in the FA Cup.

"But he's got to start picking up points, but I think Arsenal will have too much for them."

Martin Keown on what season was better... Arsenal Invincibles or Leicester 15/16?

Should Leicester emerge victorious over their north London opponents, they would leapfrog above Wolves into 17th spot.

Though they haven't enjoyed any luck in their previous six meetings having lost on each occasion, with their last win against Mikel Arteta's men coming in October 2020.

But Vardy has proven to be a constant thorn in Arsenal's side over the years, with the player scoring 11 goals against them - his highest tally against a single opponent.

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