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Few days ago Arsenal‘s title aspirations were dealt a major blow with the season-ending injury to Kai Havertz, but Mikel Arteta’s men refused to let their momentum falter. In a tense, hard-fought encounter at Leicester, the Gunners cooked up two late goals to snatch a vital win to maintain their challenge.
For 80 minutes, it seemed as though Arsenal’s attacking prowess would be blunted, as they struggled to penetrate Leicester’s rigid defense. Arteta’s decision to deploy Leandro Trossard as a false nine, flanked by Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri, initially failed to yield positives, as both Sterling and Trossard squandered half-chances, with Sterling blazing over the bar and Trossard’s shot lacking conviction.
The Gunners’ frustration grew as the clock ticked on, but Nwaneri’s pace and trickery provided a constant threat. The 17-year-old winger’s shot skimmed the crossbar just after the hour mark, and he later cracked a shot against the post, via the fingertips of Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
However, the introduction of Mikel Merino proved pivotal to the run of play. The substitute’s clever movement and clinical finishing allowed him to capitalize on two gilt-edged opportunities to secure a much needed win for Arsenal.
Merino’s first goal, a powerful header from Nwaneri’s inviting cross, broke the deadlock in the 81st minute. The Spanish midfielder then sealed the victory with a slick counterattacking move, which saw him tap home at the back post. Riccardo Calafiori initiated the counterattack, passing to Trossard, who curled a precise ball towards the far post, where Merino applied the finishing touch.
The win ensure Arsenal close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points, albeit temporarily. Arteta’s men on an afternoon where it looked as though they wouldn’t find a way showed character and adapted to their reality, as they coped without several key players, including Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus.
Leicester, meanwhile, were left to rue a missed opportunity. Despite a spirited display, they were ultimately undone by Arsenal’s superior quality and Merino’s decisive interventions. The Foxes’ supporters staged a series of protests throughout the match, but their team’s encouraging performance eventually counted for just little.
