Makeshift strike force pays off for Arsenal as title challenge stays alive | OneFootball

Not many would have predicted Arsenal’s title chances would hang on the attacking threat of two midfielders. They do now.

This late, albeit just about deserved, win was secured ten minutes from time when teenager Ethan Nwaneri curled in a cross for seasoned midfielder Mikel Merino to head in. The Spaniard then added a second in the 88th minute from a Leandro Trossard cross.

Merino was only on the pitch as manager Mikel Arteta had run out of attacking options and out of patience with the struggling Raheem Sterling.

Until then it had been Nwaneri, 17, who carried the team on his back for most of the match, hitting the woodwork twice and looking like the only attacking player of quality in the Arsenal ranks.

But it was Spanish European Championship winner Merino who added the finishing quality required to see off a hugely committed Leicester side.

Arsenal move to within four points of Liverpool at the top, although they have played a match more than the Premier League leaders. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s shot-shy Leicester remain firmly in the relegation zone, having played a match more than Wolves, one place above them. They look doomed

This is the seventh time in a row Arsenal have won here and they made hard work of it this time. How they missed the injured trio of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. How the midfield in place here lacked energy and invention.

Either way, that is their lot for the remainder of the season and it might be that Arteta has stumbled on an attacking option he was unaware of in the form of Merino. He cannot take defenders on but he can get on the end of chances and finish them.

And, that is just what he did with Nwaneri’s tantalising 81st minute cross to finish with a thumping header. His 87th side foot home from a Leandro Trossard low centre was just as emphatic.

Leicester: Hermansen 6, Justin 6 (Coulibaly 43), Faes 6, Okoli 6, Kristiansen 6, Ndidi 6 (Daka 85), Soumare 6, Khannouss 6, De Cordova-Reid 6, Ayew 5 (Mavididi 75), Vardy 5. Subs: Stolarczyk, Coady, Winks, Skipp, Vestergaard, Buonanotte

Arsenal: Raya 6, Timber 6, Saliba 7, Gabriel 7, Lewis-Skelly 7 (Calafiori 76), Partey 6 (Jorginho 76), Rice 6, Odegaard 6, Nwaneri 9, Sterling 4 (Merino 69), Trossard 5. Subs: Neto, Tierney, White, Kiwior, Zinchenko,  Butler-Oyedeji

Ref: Simon Barrott 6