Arsenal secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Leicester City on Saturday, thanks to a late brace from substitute Mikel Merino. The Gunners were far from convincing in attack due to a host of absent forwards, but their resilience and tactical adjustments ultimately paid off.
A Struggle Up Front
With key attackers sidelined through injury, Arsenal’s starting lineup lacked the usual fluidity in attack. Leandro Trossard, leading the line upfront, had a few half-chances before halftime but couldn’t capitalize. In fact, one of the better opportunities in the first half fell to Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi, whose effort went agonizingly wide just moments before the break.
The second half saw Arsenal inject more energy into their play, largely driven by teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri. The young winger hit the woodwork twice, showcasing his potential and keeping Arsenal in contention. However, despite these promising flashes, the team still struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Merino Saves the Day
As Arsenal searched for answers, manager Mikel Arteta turned to midfielder Mikel Merino off the bench. The Spaniard provided the much-needed spark up front, scoring twice in the final ten minutes to secure all three points. First, he headed home a precise cross from Nwaneri, breaking the deadlock. Then, with time running out, Merino added a second goal with a composed finish at the back post, sealing the win for Arsenal.
While the victory may not have been pretty, it highlighted Merino’s versatility and ability to step up when called upon, proving invaluable in Arsenal’s quest to maintain their strong position in the Premier League.
Player Ratings: Leicester City (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Mads Hermansen – 6.7/10
Made some routine saves but was beaten twice by Merino’s clinical finishing. - RB: James Justin – 6.7/10
Solid defensively but offered little going forward before being substituted. - CB: Wout Faes – 6.1/10
Struggled to cope with Arsenal’s pace at times but remained relatively steady overall. - CB: Caleb Okoli – 5.9/10
Below par performance; failed to inspire confidence at the heart of defense. - LB: Victor Kristiansen – 6.1/10
Quiet display on both sides of the ball. - DM: Wilfred Ndidi – 6.5/10
Showed glimpses of quality but let himself down with a crucial miss early on. - DM: Boubakary Soumare – 6.5/10
Worked tirelessly in midfield but lacked creativity. - RM: Bobby De Cordova-Reid – 5.8/10
Invisible for most of the match and replaced early. - AM: Bilal El Khannouss – 6.4/10
Tried hard but couldn’t make an impact. - LM: Jordan Ayew – 6.2/10
Lacked service and rhythm throughout. - ST: Jamie Vardy – 6.5/10
Frustrated by Arsenal’s organized defense but kept trying until the end.
Subs:
- Woyo Coulibaly (for Justin, 43′) – 7.0/10
Injected fresh legs and stability down the right flank. - Stephy Mavididi (for Ayew, 75′) – 6.7/10
Decent cameo appearance. - Patson Daka (for De Cordova-Reid, 85′) & Facundo Buonanotte (for Ndidi, 85′) – Not rated.
Player Ratings: Arsenal (4-3-3)
- GK: David Raya – 8.1/10
Commanding presence between the sticks; made crucial interventions when needed. - RB: Jurrien Timber – 7.4/10
Solid defensively and contributed well going forward. - CB: William Saliba – 7.2/10
Another reliable showing from the Frenchman. - CB: Gabriel – 7.6/10
Dominant in the air and assured in possession. - LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly – 7.0/10
Energetic but inconsistent in delivery. - DM: Thomas Partey – 7.6/10
Controlled the tempo in midfield and broke up opposition attacks effectively. - CM: Martin Ødegaard – 7.2/10
Creative influence was limited but showed flashes of brilliance. - CM: Declan Rice – 7.0/10
Strong in tackling and distribution. - RW: Ethan Nwaneri – 8.9/10 (Player of the Match)
Sensational display; twice came close to scoring and set up Merino’s opener. - ST: Leandro Trossard – 7.5/10
Worked hard but lacked sharpness in front of goal. - LW: Raheem Sterling – 6.5/10
Quiet game overall and substituted early.
Subs:
- Mikel Merino (for Sterling, 69′) – 8.5/10
Heroic performance off the bench, scoring two vital goals to secure victory. - Riccardo Calafiori (for Lewis-Skelly, 75′) & Jorginho (for Partey, 75′) – 6.3/10 and 6.2/10 respectively.
- Kieran Tierney (for Trossard, 89′) – Not rated.
Key Takeaways
- Ethan Nwaneri continues to impress with his maturity beyond his years, making him a standout performer for Arsenal.
- Mikel Merino proved his worth as a versatile asset capable of stepping in during emergencies, delivering when it mattered most.
- Despite the absence of key players, Arsenal demonstrated character and determination, securing another important away win.
