Merino’s Late Brace Keeps Arsenal’s Title Hopes Alive in Hard-Fought Win at Leicester

Mikel Arteta challenged his Arsenal side to prove their title credentials despite a major injury setback to Kai Havertz. For 80 minutes, it seemed their attacking edge had dulled in a frustrating stalemate against a struggling Leicester side. But then, up stepped Ethan Nwaneri—the fearless 17-year-old—delicately floating a feathery cross into the box. There, lurking between Wout Faes and Woyo Coulibaly, was substitute Mikel Merino. With a twist of his neck, he powered a header home, breaking the deadlock and igniting Arsenal’s charge.

Merino wasn’t done yet. With three minutes left in regulation time, he sealed victory with a composed finish, ensuring Arsenal closed the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool—at least for 24 hours—to just four points.

A Tactical Gamble That Paid Off

With Arsenal missing Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Havertz—who is sidelined for the season—Arteta deployed Leandro Trossard as a false nine, flanked by Raheem Sterling and Nwaneri. Yet, until Merino’s breakthrough, Arsenal struggled to breach Leicester’s defense, a side now enduring a miserable 21-game streak without a clean sheet.

Sterling and Trossard fluffed half-chances, while centre-back William Saliba—who honed his early footballing days as a striker under Kylian Mbappé’s father—might have been tempted to venture forward.

But it was Nwaneri who looked the brightest spark. The teenager struck the Leicester crossbar just past the hour mark before rattling the post with a venomous effort, denied only by the fingertips of Mads Hermansen.

Then came the moment Arsenal fans had been waiting for. Substitute Riccardo Calafiori drove forward, offloaded to Trossard, who curled a teasing ball to the far post. Once again, Merino arrived right on cue, making no mistake with a ruthless finish to secure all three points.

Leicester’s Protests End in Pain, Arsenal’s Away Fans Rejoice

On a day when Leicester supporters staged protests, hope briefly flickered before fading into familiar despair. The home crowd streamed out before the final whistle, but in the away section, Arsenal fans erupted into chants, saluting their new hero—Mikel Merino.

Meanwhile, in the dugout, Ruud van Nistelrooy endured another bitter chapter against Arsenal, though at least Martin Keown extended an olive branch for their infamous past battles.

Arsenal’s title charge remains alive. Merino’s name echoes in the chants, and Arteta’s belief in his squad has been repaid.