Arsenal ignored their damage woes to shut the hole on Premier League leaders Liverpool to 4 factors as Mikel Merino got here off the bench to clinch a 2-0 win towards Leicester on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s aspect had been at risk of losing an opportunity to place stress on Liverpool within the title race as they laboured to make the breakthrough on the King Energy Stadium.
However, along with his attacking choices restricted by a number of accidents, Arteta despatched on Spain midfielder Merino to behave as a makeshift striker within the closing levels.
It proved an impressed transfer as Merino netted twice within the final 9 minutes to increase Arsenal’s unbeaten run within the league to fifteen video games.
Having misplaced 2-0 at Newcastle within the League Cup semi-final second leg earlier than an prolonged break as a consequence of their early FA Cup exit, the Gunners returned to motion with a significant victory that retains them sizzling on the heels of Liverpool.
Liverpool, who stumbled with a draw at Everton of their sport in hand on Wednesday, can improve their lead again to seven factors in the event that they beat lowly Wolves at Anfield on Sunday.
With Kai Havertz dominated out for the season after struggling a hamstring damage whereas blocking a shot throughout Arsenal’s latest coaching journey to Dubai, Arteta was left with a threadbare assault.
Havertz’s damage blow got here simply weeks after Arsenal did not signal Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins through the January switch window.
Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli had been already sidelined, so Arteta was compelled to make use of Belgian winger Leandro Trossard as his central striker.
Underling the paucity of Arteta’s ahead choices, 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri and the off form Raheem Sterling stuffed in on the flanks both aspect of Trossard.
Protest songs
Luckily for Arteta, third-bottom Leicester had been best opponents for his weakened workforce.
Underlying the gloom round Leicester’s relegation battle, followers staging a vocal protest towards the membership’s Thai homeowners and Foxes director of soccer Jon Rudkin after 14 minutes.
With the protest songs nonetheless ringing across the King Energy Stadium, Declan Rice headed wastefully large when Nwaneri’s cross teed up Arsenal’s first sight of aim.
Arteta tried to evoke Arsenal from their torpid begin with an animated team-talk throughout a break in play.
Sterling’s insecurity was clear to see in an ill-timed fall that allowed one other likelihood to slide away.
Ndidi was near breaking the impasse on the stroke of half-time when his header skidded off the rain-soaked floor and flashed simply large of the far put up.
Nwaneri was one in every of Arsenal’s few shiny sparks on a murky day within the east midlands.
{The teenager} surged onto Martin Odegaard’s cross and curled simply large from 20 yards in a uncommon Arsenal risk.
Nwaneri was a continuing menace, unloading a stinging strike that Leicester keeper Mads Hermansen tipped onto the put up.
Leicester could not stem the tide as Arteta’s gamble paid off within the 81st minute.
Nwaneri swung a pin-point cross into the Leicester space and Merino discovered area to thump his header previous Hermansen from six yards.
Merino celebrated by dancing a jig across the nook flag, however he wasn’t completed but.
Seven minutes later, Trossard whipped a cross into the six-yard field and Merino’s well-timed run eluded the Leicester defence as he slotted residence to maintain Arsenal firmly within the title chase.
