With difficulty, Arsenal FC – thanks to Merino’s double – managed a late 2-0 win at Leicester City. This means that the Gunners remain at the top of the table, close behind Liverpool FC.
Foxes coach Ruud van Nistelrooy made two changes after the 2-1 defeat in the FA Cup at Manchester United: Kristiansen and Vardy started instead of Thomas and Daka.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta had to make major changes to his offense compared to the 2-0 League Cup defeat to Newcastle: In addition to Saka (not yet fit again after a thigh injury), Havertz (out for the season due to a serious thigh injury) and Gabriel Martinelli (also out with a thigh injury) were also unavailable. Nwaneri and Sterling started instead.
Justin has to come off – Ndidi just misses the target
The personnel concerns in the Gunners’ offense were noticeable from the start in the game in Leicester. There was a lack of penetration in the final third. Clear scoring opportunities remained a rarity in the entire first half. Shortly before half-time, Ndidi had the best chance for the Foxes with a header (45.+1).
Van Nistelrooy had already been forced to make an injury substitution just before half-time, with right-back Justin being replaced by Coulibaly.
Merino becomes the match winner
After the break, the Gunners increased the pace. Nwaneri came close to taking the lead with a well-placed shot that just touched the top of the crossbar (61′). In the end, it was Merino who headed the ball perfectly from a central position after a delicate cross from Nwaneri (81) – a goal that was somewhat reminiscent of his decisive goal in the 2024 European Championship quarter-final against Germany.
In the final phase, Merino finally became the match winner: the Spaniard completed a counterattack after work from Trossard by taking the ball directly in center-forward fashion (87.).
Leicester now play Brentford on Friday evening (9 p.m. CET), while Arsenal face West Ham United on Saturday afternoon (4 p.m. CET).
