Arsenal proved they're still very much in the Premier League title race. In a very tough match with Leicester at King Power Stadium, the Gunners had to be patient in breaking down the rivals' defense and were blessed with Mikel Merino's bit of individual magic from the bench to take the game away. At a 2-0 away win, Mikel Arteta's side is now on 53 points, four behind top-placed Liverpool in the table but clearly still putting pressure.
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Merino's instant availability off the bench
When Arteta looked to his substitute bench in the second half, there was no attacking option. Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz were injured, and the manager had no option but to think outside the box. He chose to play Mikel Merino, a midfielder who is not usually used as an attacking spark. But it worked. With a perfectly timed header from a cross by Ethan Nwaneri, Merino brought Arsenal onto the score sheet in the 80th minute, putting the team ahead.
Seconds later, in a cleverly constructed exchange on the left flank, Trossard played in a low pass, and Merino was back once more — finishing from close range with accuracy to complete the victory. In the space of 10 minutes, the Spaniard had turned a difficult game into a simple Gunners victory.
Arteta noted the importance of Merino's introduction and the switch in the tempo of the team. "The second half was quite different. We had a lot more urgency, better intentions, better execution, and then you could sense that the game was moving in the right direction," the manager said.
A first half littered withstacles and terrors
The match started scrappy, and Leicester had chances to pull ahead. Wilfred Ndidi pounced on a loose ball on the box line, prompting David Raya to make a safe save. Declan Rice also had a decent chance on the opposite side off a cross by Nwaneri that went awry.
Leicester's best chance in the first half came in added time. Ndidi jumped unchallenged for a header but headed it wide, sending shivers down Arsenal's spines. The Gunners themselves were unable to capitalize on their moves and only found their rhythm in the second half.
Arteta's improvisation saves the day
With the game level and time on their side, Arteta rolled the dice. He pushed Merino higher up the pitch, using his athleticism and aerial threat. It paid dividends, and the manager explained his thought process: "Well, I mapped out all the possibilities, but there were lots. When you start mapping out possibilities, there are loads, and then you have to have the image in your mind of what can occur."
It was not a better call that it could have been. Besides the two goals, Merino became a benchmark in attack, making tackles and continuing play to help Arsenal organize the last few minutes. The victory took Arsenal's unbeaten sequence in the Premier League to 15 games, their longest such run since 2011.
The title duel with Liverpool is still close
With the victory at Leicester, Arsenal now has 53 points and has set itself up as Liverpool's greatest challenger for the Premier League title. Arteta reiterated that the pressure must be kept on the league leaders. "It was [significant] for us as well. Everything that has been going on the past few days, there was a lot of fuss, and it was indicative of how much we want this. Because whatever the outcome, we're actually going to attempt it," he added.
The competition is still fierce, and the Gunners are aware that a single mistake will ruin their title ambitions. The momentum of being unbeaten is a good asset, but the team will have to keep that momentum going in the latter stages if they are to effectively challenge Liverpool's dominance.