Sat Feb 15 16:22:30 UTC 2025: ## Late Merino Double Secures Arsenal Victory, Keeps Title Hopes Alive
**Leicester, England** – Mikel Merino’s late brace secured a vital 2-0 victory for Arsenal at Leicester City, keeping their Premier League title aspirations alive. The win extends Arsenal’s unbeaten run to 15 league games, their best streak in over a decade.
Merino, playing an unfamiliar role as a makeshift centre-forward due to Arsenal’s extensive injury crisis, scored twice in the final ten minutes. His first goal was a header from a pinpoint cross by 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who impressed throughout the match. Merino added a second with a tap-in from Leandro Trossard’s assist.
“I told me I would come on as a striker and to make sure I play to my strengths,” Merino said post-match. “It is the first time in my career that I play in that position.”
Nwaneri, who has been compared to Arsenal star Bukayo Saka by pundit Janusz Michallik, was a key figure in Arsenal’s attack. His performance, including a shot that struck the crossbar, highlighted his burgeoning talent. Michallik believes Nwaneri’s developing partnership with Martin Odegaard will further enhance his potential.
The match was a tense affair, with chances limited in the first half. Leicester, battling relegation, put up a strong fight, with Wilfred Ndidi coming close on a couple of occasions. Despite dominating possession in the second half, Arsenal struggled to break the deadlock until Merino’s late heroics.
Leicester’s Bilal El Khannouss lamented his team’s inability to hold on, stating, “I think we did well for 80 minutes to take a result today but you cannot lose concentration against those teams.”
The victory moves Arsenal to 53 points, four points behind league leaders Liverpool, although Arsenal have played one game more. Leicester, meanwhile, remain in the relegation zone with 17 points. The match also saw muted fan protests against Leicester’s director of football, Jon Rudkin.
First Piper 