Mikel Arteta’s experiment with playing Mikel Merino up front paid off as the makeshift forward netted a quickfire double off the bench to guide Arsenal to a 2-0 win against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
Two goals in six minutes secured victory as the visitors closed the gap to Liverpool, which now stands at four points ahead of the leaders’ Super Sunday home game against Wolves.
And the substitute’s performance was all the more impressive given his post-match admission that it was his first time operating in the role.
“Arteta told me I was going to come in as a striker,” he told TNT Sport. “We were talking this morning about it with one of the assistants and honestly it was a surprise.
“It’s the first time in my career I’ve played in that position. But he told me to go as a striker, make sure I go with my strengths. Luckily, I could help the team with two goals.”
Leandro Trossard was the original player tasked with leading the line – with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus sidelined through injury – but a tepid display throughout the first 70 minutes forced Arteta into a dramatic rethink.
Raheem Sterling struggled and was replaced by Merino and the midfielder-by-trade wasted no time in settling into the role.
The 28-year-old latched onto Ethan Nwaneri’s cross to give his side the lead and would sweep home his second of the afternoon at the back post to seal the win shortly after.
Merino’s match-winning double came after he was introduced as a second-half substitute
Arsenal looked bereft of ideas until the Spaniard’s introduction but now appear to have found an answer to their striker conundrum for the time being, as they look to continue chasing Liverpool down.
For Leicester, it was another crushing defeat that leaves them in the bottom three. Both teams will now shift their focus towards Anfield on Sunday for a game which could have massive implications at both ends of the table.
Nwaneri outshines Sterling in Arsenal win
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz:
There was a moment in the second half where Arsenal’s forward hopes were laid bare.
A free-kick was cleared to Sterling on the edge of the box. But, instead of shooting, the experienced pro with nearly 400 league appearances and 82 England caps passed the ball to 17-year-old Nwaneri in a similar area and he saw his shot blocked.
Bobby Decordova-Reid tackles Ethan Nwaneri (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Arsenal started the day with three recognised forwards and one of them was not up to scratch. Sterling had no shots, no real chances and just one opportunity created. He attempted three dribbles in the game and failed to win a single one.
Thankfully for Arsenal, they had Nwaneri – who completed six out of his seven dribbles and set up the Gunners’ opener with a superb cross. Sterling made his Premier League debut just three days after Nwaneri’s fifth birthday – but one looks like a helpful option for Arsenal in this forward crisis.
And, after Mikel Merino stepped up off the bench to score twice, even Sterling’s position in this back-up Arsenal team is under threat.
Foxes falling foul at the King Power
Sky Sports’ Patrick Rowe:
Ninety per cent.
That is the percentage of games Leicester have suffered a defeat in at home in the Premier League across their last 10 outings.
Leicester City fans protest during the 2-0 loss to Arsenal in the Premier League
The Foxes looked solid enough defensively to walk away with their first clean sheet since beating Bournemouth 1-0 in October but unravelled in the dying embers of the game – which is something that simply cannot happen when you are fighting for survival.
With protests and chants towards the hierarchy of the club ringing around the stadium – both before and during the game – it is clear the King Power is far from a fortress for the Foxes. It is where they are falling foul.
