Sat Feb 15 19:18:50 UTC 2025: ## Arsenal Edge Past Leicester Thanks to Merino’s Late Double
**Leicester, England** – Arsenal secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, but the win came with a twist. While young stars Ethan Nwaneri and Martin Ødegaard impressed, it was substitute Mikel Merino who stole the show, scoring twice in the final 15 minutes to secure the three points.
The Gunners struggled to create clear-cut chances in a subdued first half, with Raheem Sterling and Leandro Trossard failing to make an impact in attack. However, the introduction of Merino as a makeshift striker proved to be a masterstroke from manager Mikel Arteta. Nwaneri, lauded by pundit Janusz Michallik for his performance and compared to Bukayo Saka, provided the assist for Merino’s first goal with a pinpoint cross in the 81st minute. Merino then sealed the victory with a composed finish from Trossard’s cross in the 87th minute.
The win keeps Arsenal in the Premier League title race, though they remain four points behind Liverpool. However, the performance raised questions about Arsenal’s attacking options, particularly with key forward Kai Havertz ruled out for the season. Michallik specifically questioned whether Merino’s late heroics are a long-term solution to Arsenal’s striker woes. Despite the win, Arteta will likely need to address Arsenal’s attacking inconsistencies before the season’s end. The performances of Sterling and Trossard, in particular, were cause for concern. Meanwhile, Nwaneri’s impressive display further highlights the strength of Arsenal’s academy.
First Piper 