Arsenal Secures Dramatic Win Over Leicester Thanks to Mikel Merino's Brace
Midfielder Mikel Merino emerged as the hero for Arsenal in their hard-fought away victory against Leicester City. Despite missing several key players due to injuries, the Gunners managed to secure a crucial 2-0 win over the Premier League strugglers, thanks to a late double from the Spanish midfielder.
The breakthrough came in the 81st minute when Ethan Nwaneri delivered a cross from the corner of the penalty area, and Merino rose highest to head the ball into the net. The Spaniard wasn't done yet, as he doubled Arsenal's lead just minutes later. Leandro Trossard provided a pinpoint cross from the left flank, and Merino, unmarked at the far post, calmly slotted the ball into the corner of the goal.
The final score of 2-0 saw Arsenal narrow the gap to just six points behind Liverpool in the Premier League standings.
2024-25, England - Premier League
Leicester - Arsenal 0:2 (0:0)
Goals: Merino, 81 (0:1); Merino, 87 (0:2)
Leicester: Hermansen; Justin (Coulibaly W., 43); Faes; Okoli; Ndidi (Buonanotte, 85); Kristiansen; Soumare B.; El Khannouss; De Cordova-Reid (Daka, 85); Vardy; Jordan Ayew (Mavididi, 75)
Bench: Stolarczyk J.; Coady; Vestergaard; Winks; Skipp
Yellow Cards: El Khannouss 46; Jordan Ayew 57
Arsenal: Raya; Saliba; Gabriel M.; Timber J.; Lewis-Skelly (Calafiori, 76); Partey T. (Jorginho, 76); Odegaard; Sterling (Merino, 69); Rice; Nwaneri; Trossard (Tierney, 89)
Bench: Neto; White B.; Kiwior; Zinchenko; Butler-Oyedeji
Yellow Cards: Jorginho 86
