Arsenal Narrow Gap to Liverpool with Late Victory Over Leicester

2025-03-02

Arsenal secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, thanks to a late brace from substitute Mikel Merino. The win narrows the gap between Arsenal and Premier League leaders Liverpool to just four points, keeping the Gunners firmly in the title race.

The match began with a lacklustre first half, as Arsenal, missing several key players due to injury, struggled to break down Leicester’s defence. The Foxes came close to taking the lead after the break, hitting the woodwork twice, but failed to capitalise on their chances.

The turning point came in the 69th minute when Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made a bold substitution, introducing Merino as a makeshift striker. The decision proved inspired, as the Spaniard scored twice in the final 10 minutes. His first goal came from a well-placed header, assisted by Arsenal’s young star Ethan Nwaneri, who had been a constant threat throughout the match. Merino’s second goal was set up by Leandro Trossard, sealing the victory for the Gunners.

Merino, who revealed it was his first time playing as a striker, praised Nwaneri’s performance, calling him an “amazing player” and highlighting his contribution to the win. Despite his heroics, Merino downplayed the likelihood of a permanent role up front, stating, “I don’t think so, to be honest.”

Leicester, managed by Ruud van Nistelrooy, remain in a precarious position near the relegation zone. The Foxes have now gone five home games without scoring, a worrying statistic as they fight for survival. Van Nistelrooy acknowledged the challenge of facing a title-contending side like Arsenal but expressed hope that his team’s fortunes would improve.

The result extends Arsenal’s unbeaten run in the Premier League to 15 games, their longest such streak since 2011. With Liverpool set to play later in the weekend, Arsenal’s victory puts pressure on the league leaders as the title race heats up.

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