Makeshift Arsenal number nine Mikel Merino struck a quickfire double as the Gunners moved to within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
Following the loss of Kai Havertz to a season-ending hamstring injury, Arsenal's lack of an attacking figurehead was well and truly exposed in the first half, where there was little to write home about from either side.
While Ethan Nwaneri did his utmost to make things happen, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling came out second best to the Leicester high line, who caught the ineffective duo offside far too often.
The action was at least more watchable in the second 45 minutes, where Mikel Arteta's men huffed and puffed with greater intensity, and such efforts finally paid dividends via a critical header and calm first-time strike from emergency solution Merino in the final 10 minutes.
The Euro 2024 winner's heroic acts have seen Arsenal go four points behind Liverpool at the Premier League summit, while Leicester remain in the drop zone, two points below Wolverhampton Wanderers having now played a game more.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Sympathies with all who also had to endure one of the worst first halves of Premier League football we will see this season, but when Arsenal just had to find a way - any way - Arteta's men found a way.
The hallmark of champions is so often their ability to win ugly away from home when the cards are stacked against them, and while Liverpool can re-establish their seven-point lead on Sunday, this one felt incredibly significant from Arsenal.
Where recognised attacker Sterling failed to deliver, Merino - a man who would never be considered for the number nine slot in any other circumstances - provided the attacking instincts and ruthless finishing akin to a seasoned centre-forward.
Whether Arteta is bold enough to start Merino up top from the first whistle remains to be seen, but while Declan Rice is manning the left eight role, the Spaniard may have found his calling in red and white.
On the other side of the coin, Leicester have now lost five straight Premier League home games without scoring - becoming just the second team to ever suffer that fate - and the space that Merino enjoyed for both of his efforts should be of major concern to Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Foxes did enjoy a few positive sequences in the final third, but nothing that truly concerned David Raya on a day where the fans made their feelings towards the men upstairs clearly known.
LEICESTER VS. ARSENAL HIGHLIGHTS
Ethan Nwaneri miss vs. Leicester (61st min, Leicester 0-0 Arsenal)
That would've been special from Ethan Nwaneri 😮💨
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 15, 2025
The Arsenal youngster comes close to breaking the deadlock.
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/ARtLO5uTnz
The best chance of the game for either side so far, and it is only fitting that it comes from the best player on the pitch.
Gunners captain Martin Odegaard feeds in the effervescent Nwaneri, who cuts inside onto his favoured left foot and tries to bend a 20-yard strike into the top corner, but it flashes a whisker over the top.
Mikel Merino goal vs. Leicester (81st min, Leicester 0-1 Arsenal)
ARSENAL FIND THE OPENER!
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 15, 2025
Mikel Merino heads home a brilliant cross from Ethan Nwaneri 🎯
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/tQpEFO4WJz
A press of the panic button pays off from Arteta! The Arsenal boss had seen enough of Sterling and introduced summer signing Merino, who slotted into the role of emergency number nine.
The Spaniard is found in the box by a wonderful clipped cross from wonderkid Nwaneri, and he loses Wout Faes with ease before directing an accurate header into the bottom corner!
Mikel Merino goal vs. Leicester (87th min, Leicester 0-2 Arsenal)
The striker Arsenal needed 👀
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 15, 2025
Mikel Merino with a fine finish to score his second goal of the game!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/MMnehZV8qO
Another dose of Merino magic and Arsenal are heading back to North London with all three points!
The Gunners quickly break after a Leicester attack, and Riccardo Calafiori just manages to prod the ball out to Trossard on the left-hand side before a Foxes boot can intercept.
Trossard only has one target - a free Merino at the back post - and the Belgian picks out his teammate expertly before Merino calmly side-foots a first-time strike low into Mads Hermansen's goal.
MAN OF THE MATCH - ETHAN NWANERI
© Imago
We must not start this section without paying tribute to Arsenal hero Merino, as well as Leicester duo Caleb Okoli and Wilfred Ndidi, but a 17-year-old was the best player on the pitch by a country mile all day long.
Nwaneri delivered a gorgeous assist for Merino's first, came agonisingly close to scoring two of his own and completed an astonishing six successful dribbles on the afternoon. Thomas Tuchel take note?
LEICESTER VS. ARSENAL MATCH STATS
Possession: Leicester 40%-60% Arsenal
Shots: Leicester 6-11 Arsenal
Shots on target: Leicester 2-5 Arsenal
Corners: Leicester 3-7 Arsenal
Fouls: Leicester 9-10 Arsenal
BEST STATS
Ethan Nwaneri completed more take-ons in the first half against Leicester City (5/5) than all other Arsenal players combined (4/6).
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) February 15, 2025
A really bright showing from the teenager. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/4Di6QLQTVM
Mikel Merino goals:
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) February 15, 2025
2 — Today
2 — First 27 games with Arsenal pic.twitter.com/R9D39aOVCY
WHAT NEXT?
A London derby at home to West Ham United is next on the menu for Arsenal on February 22, one day after they learn their opponents for the last 16 of the Champions League.
As for Leicester, the Foxes' fight against the drop continues on the same day as the UCL draw, as Van Nistelrooy's side host Brentford next Friday evening.
Ben Knapton
