Leicester City 0-2 Arsenal: What Were The Main Talking Points As Mikel Merino Keeps Arsenal’s Title Dreams Alive?

While Arsenal might have struggled to find much fluidity on Saturday lunchtime, the Gunners did drag themselves to a late 2-0 victory away at Leicester.

Unable to call upon a string their attacking superstars at the King Power, Mikel Arteta’s side failed to break down a rugged Leicester defence for large spells.

However, with their title dreams hanging in the balance here, it was second-half substitute Mikel Merino who proved to be Arsenal’s hero as the Spanish international bagged a sensational late brace.

Finding an immediate response following on from their EFL Cup exit earlier in the month, the Gunners have briefly moved just four points adrift of Liverpool as they successfully kept the pressure on their bitter title rivals.

As for Leicester, although the Foxes might have caused Saturday’s guests some real frustrations on either side of the half-time break, they still remain in the drop zone and have now lost 10 of their last 11 meetings against Premier League opposition.

On an afternoon when Arsenal avoided what could have been a season-defining banana skin, we have taken a look at the main talking points from the King Power.

Arsenal drag themselves over the finishing line

Coming under a huge amount of scrutiny earlier in the month as they watched their EFL Cup adventure come to an end following a 4-0 aggregate defeat against Newcastle, Arsenal had plenty of pressure on their shoulders here.

Although the Gunners might have flattered to decide for large spells on Saturday lunchtime, Arteta’s squad knew the importance of simply dragging themselves over the finishing line.

Having to dig dip and leaving it late, Arsenal’s 2-0 victory was enough to at least briefly move within four points adrift of leading title contenders Liverpool.

Claiming an immediate response at the King Power and keeping their fading title dreams alive, Arteta’s camp will know that stability is key heading into the final few months.

Getting February underway with a sensational 5-1 romp against Manchester City, the Gunners are unbeaten in all of their previous 16 consecutive Premier League appearances – a run that stems all the way back to October 19th.

More heartbreak for the Foxes

While Leicester might have signed off January with a remarkable second-half comeback away at Tottenham as they snatched a 2-1 victory in north London, it appears that was just a minor boost for Saturday’s hosts.

Suffering real FA Cup heartbreak away at Old Trafford last week as they slumped to a controversial 2-1 defeat against Manchester United, the King Power are making their frustrations heard.

Although Leicester might have produced a rugged performance for large spells here, the pressure on Ruud van Nistelrooy’s shoulders remains at a boiling point.

Missing out on the chance to claim what would have been a heavyweight scalps on home soil, the former interim Manchester United boss has an almighty job on his hands.

Getting February underway with a nightmare 4-0 drumming at the hands of Everton, Leicester have now lost 10 of their last 11 meetings against Premier League opposition across all competitions.

Merino keeps Arsenal’s title dreams alive

Confirming earlier in the week that former Chelsea star Kai Havertz will miss the remainder of the season after picking up a hamstring injury while away training in Dubai, Arsenal have a real attacking crisis on their hands.

With the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli still dealing with respective injury issues and not set to feature for the foreseeable future, the decision to not bring in attacking reinforcements during the January transfer window looks even more confusing.

With Chelsea loanee Raheem Sterling drastically failing to make any kind of impact after making a rare start of Saturday lunchtime, few would have expected Merino to be Arsenal’s saviour.

However, taking both of his late efforts like a seasoned number nine, Arteta did state in midweek that the former Real Sociedad star could be deployed in a more advanced role.

Changing the game after coming off the bench and keeping Arsenal’s title dreams alive, Merino could now take over Havertz’s spot and be deployed in a false nine role going forward.

Match Report

Leicester City: Hermansen, Justin, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen, Ndidi, Soumare, De Cordova-Reid, El Khannouss, Ayew, Vardy

Subs: Daka, Buonanotte, Coulibaly, Mavididi

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Sterling, Trossard

Subs: Merino, Calafiori, Jorginho, Tierney

Goals: Merino (81’, 87’)

Yellow Cards: Leicester City: El Khannouss, Ayew – Arsenal: Jorginho

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Samuel Barrott