Arsenal secured a vital 2-0 win over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, with Mikel Merino playing the role of the hero. The late double from Merino ensured that Mikel Arteta’s side maintained their push for the Premier League title, even without the injured Kai Havertz, who will miss the remainder of the season.
For the majority of the game, Arsenal struggled to break down Leicester’s defense. Despite a starting lineup that saw Leandro Trossard deployed as a false nine, with Raheem Sterling on the left and 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri on the right, the Gunners’ attack looked blunt. Leicester, who had failed to keep a clean sheet in 21 matches across all competitions, offered little resistance in terms of creating meaningful chances, but they were frustratingly resilient.
The first 80 minutes saw few clear-cut chances, with both teams struggling to create real momentum. Sterling and Trossard had chances, but neither could finish when it mattered. In fact, it was Nwaneri who was the most dangerous player on the pitch for Arsenal. His slick footwork and ability to glide past defenders created a few dangerous moments. Just after the hour mark, he came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock when his shot skimmed the top of the crossbar. Shortly after, his powerful effort forced a strong save from Leicester’s goalkeeper, Mads Hermansen, who managed to push the ball onto the post.
Despite these missed opportunities, Arsenal kept pushing, and their persistence finally paid off in the 87th minute. Nwaneri, who had been a constant threat throughout the match, delivered a brilliant dinked cross into the box, which found the head of Merino. The Spaniard, who had replaced the ineffective Sterling earlier in the match, was perfectly positioned between Wout Faes and Woyo Coulibaly. Merino’s header was firm and precise, beating Hermansen to give Arsenal the lead.
Leicester’s defensive frailty had been exposed, and it became clear that the visitors were about to seal all three points. Merino wasn’t done there, though. With just three minutes left in regular time, Arsenal capitalized on a quick counter-attack. Riccardo Calafiori brought the ball forward and passed it to Trossard, who curled a ball towards the far post. Merino was once again in the right place at the right time, tapping the ball into the net to complete his brace and confirm the victory.
The win was particularly significant for Arteta’s side, as it came in a match where they were missing several key players. In addition to Havertz, Arsenal were without Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus, all of whom have been instrumental in their title challenge. Arteta must have been concerned for much of the match, as his side failed to make the most of possession and struggled to break down Leicester’s defense. However, Merino’s late heroics ensured that Arsenal would keep up the pressure on league leaders Liverpool, who now have a four-point advantage, for at least 24 hours.
As the final whistle blew, Leicester’s supporters were visibly disappointed, with many leaving the stadium well before the end. On the other hand, Arsenal’s away fans were in full voice, celebrating Merino’s decisive contribution. The victory was a testament to the team’s resilience, even in the absence of several key players, and showed that Arsenal can still mount a serious title challenge as the season progresses.
