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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has ruled out a move for Leicester City’s wantaway winger Riyad Mahrez.

City travel to the Emirates for tonight’s Premier League curtain-raiser against Arsenal, with Mahrez fully expected to take his place in the squad despite expressing his wishes for a transfer.

But Wenger has admitted the Gunners are no longer in the race to sign the Algerian international, leaving Italian side Roma as the clear favourites after the Serie A club have already seen three bids turned down.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s clash, Wenger said Arsenal were never close to signing Mahrez despite being heavily linked all summer with the former PFA player of the year.

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“We were never close,” said Wenger when asked about Arsenal moving for Mahrez.

“I rate him as a player but we have similar types with Alex Iwobi, Jack Wilshere back, Mesut Ozil ... we have plenty of the same type of players.”

Wenger has admitted he needs to trim down his squad size, but so far only Yaya Sanogo and Wojciech Szczesny have left Arsenal on a permanent basis, while Emiliano Martinez joined Getafe on a season-long loan.

“We are still open,” said Wenger. “But of course at the moment I have currently 33 players and it is very difficult to manage on a daily basis such a high number.”