The replacement Mikel Merino admitted that his deployment as a target had been a surprise after his double double arsenal moved four points behind the Liverpool leaders with a successive third Premier league win and Victory on Leicester City at King Power Stadium.
Known for his air prowess as a midfielder, the international manager Merino Spanish was informed by manager Mikel Arteta that he would occur as a potential solution for the shortage of attackers of his team while they were facing The third -found team -and he forced himself by heading towards Ethan Nwaneri 81st from 81st row -Minor the cross before inserting them in a second six minutes later of the low delivery of Leandro Trossard.
Arsenal finds the opener!
Mikel Merino comes home a brilliant cross from Ethan Nwaneri 🎯
📺 @Tntsports & @discoveryplusuk pic.twitter.com/tqpefo4wjz
– Football on TNT SPORTS (@footballontnt) February 15, 2025
“It was the first time in my career in my career in this position,” said Merino to TNT Sports, adding that he had been informed by Arteta assistants on the ploy before the match and his compatriot said “Make sure to go with my strength”.
“It’s a good time to score because I forgot to give my wife something for Valentine’s Day. I think she will appreciate it more than a pink or a little chocolate.
The Arsenal striker needed 👀
Mikel Merino with a nice finish to score his second goal of the match!
📺 @Tntsports & @discoveryplusuk pic.twitter.com/mmnehzv8qo
– Football on TNT SPORTS (@footballontnt) February 15, 2025
Leicester vs Arsenal: Masterclass Merino
With Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli injured and Kai Havertz suffering from a hamstring injury In a training camp in Dubai last week, Arsenal started with Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Nwaneri, 17, in attack.
Nwaneri struck the woodwork twice in the second half, but the Foxes held up, almost taking the lead themselves after the break when only the narrow intervention of Myles Lewis-Skelly prevented Bobby de Cordova-Reid to type in the crossing of Jordan Ayew.
“I do not think, to be honest,” replied Merino, who came in the 69th minute for the disappointing sterling, when he was asked if he would continue to attack. “It’s funny because I only scored two other hinds for my career.
“”[Nwaneri’s] An incredible player. It is such a talent. I told him all the season that I need this kind of balls when I arrive in the box. He has such a wonderful left foot that he put it directly on my head, so I could only mark. “”
Mikel Merino in 21 minutes against Leicester:
✅ 2 keys in the opposition box
✅ 2 shots
✅ 2 goalsNot bad for his first time playing as an attacker 😳 pic.twitter.com/ytzjzvzv5u
– Football on TNT SPORTS (@footballontnt) February 15, 2025
The foxes fall to the fifth consecutive defeat
Need a victory to overcome the wolves of the fourth basin, Leicester behaved with respect, but has now lost its last five games in the Home League and nine of their last 10 in total.
Each of their last four home losses has finished 2-0, with its previous defeat at the King Power Stadium, 3-0 against the Wolves.
Arsenal, conversely, has moved six clear points From the Nottingham forest, third, which visits Fulham on Saturday (3 p.m. GMT).
Liverpool plays his game by hand at home in the wolves on Sunday (2 p.m.). The next Arsenal match is at home in West Ham next Saturday (3 p.m.), Leicester welcoming Brentford the previous evening (8 p.m.).
