Mikel Merino of Arsenal celebrates scoring his group’s first objective in the course of the Premier League match in opposition to Leicester Metropolis at The King Energy Stadium on February 15, 2025 in Leicester, England. (Photograph by Shaun Botterill/Getty Photographs)
Mikel Merino was Arsenal’s hero on Saturday after he got here off the bench in opposition to Leicester Metropolis and scored the 2 objectives that gained the Gunners the match.
Till his introduction, the Gunners huffed and puffed however couldn’t break the Foxes resistance.
Paul Merson can have egg on his face after Mikel Merino remark
Former Arsenal ace, Paul Merson, shall be left with egg on his face after he’d prompt that utilizing Merino as an emergency striker wouldn’t work.
Mikel Arteta had already hinted at a “inventive resolution” within the pre-match press convention, nonetheless, this associated to pushing Riccardo Calafiori additional ahead, not essentially Merino.
In any occasion, the Spaniard will certainly be delighted that his countryman got here on and did the enterprise for his facet with a header on 81 minutes adopted by a low shot that discovered the online on 87.
That led to team-mate, Declan Rice, sending a message on Instagram in tribute.
The three factors had been important for the Gunners to maintain on the coat-tails of Liverpool who are actually solely 4 factors forward after Arsenal’s win – albeit they’ve a sport in hand.
With accidents having taken their toll on the North Londoner’s potential to discipline a fearsome assault, Arteta will greater than seemingly look to proceed to be inventive in terms of options to win video games.
Mikel Merino might be vital for Arsenal within the upcoming video games
That they’re nonetheless remaining aggressive regardless of accidents to key gamers is to Arteta and his squad’s immense credit score.
All they’ll do at this stage is to maintain placing strain on Arne Slot’s facet and hope that, in some unspecified time in the future, they’ve a wobble and Arsenal are nonetheless there to take full benefit.
If Merino continues to search out himself in the suitable place on the proper time, he would possibly effectively grow to be the shock of the season in a putting sense.
