Arsenal showed the quality of champions by beating Leicester City 2-0 despite not being at their best.
Ethan Nwaneri was Arsenal’s brightest spark in the game and hit the bar midway through the second half after the Foxes limited the Gunners to scraps in the first half.
Nwaneri produced a stunning cross for make-shift striker Mikel Merino to head home late on and secure Mikel Arteta a vital win. Merino added a late second with a calm volley from a Leandro Trossard cross.
Merino scored 9/10 in the Arsenal player ratings for his impact from the bench and Arsenal fans are now sending the same message to the Gunners boss.
Arsenal fans want Mikel Merino to play centre forward
Arsenal fans have taken to X after the match and are sending a clear message to Arteta as to how he should set the team up moving forward, especially after such a poor performance from Raheem Sterling.
One Arsenal fan wrote: “Not even being funny but they are two top finishes from Merino, a real striker would have been proud of those.”
Another Arsenal fan wrote: “Mikel Merino centre forward. I have seen the light. Arteta we need him down the middle and he will score 15 goals.”
Fans were praising Arteta for having the courage to play Merino out of position, one wrote: “Now I know why Arteta wanted to sign Merino so badly, he is a fortune teller.”
Merino dedicates Arsenal goals to his wife
Speaking to TNT Sports post-match coverage of Leicester City v Arsenal, Merino made a joke that he had scored the brace for his wife after forgetting to get her a gift on Valentine’s Day.
Merino stated: “I forgot to get my wife something for Valentine’s Day, so this brace goes to her and I think she will appreciate this more than a rose.”
The Spanish midfielder came on in the central striker position and looked assured with some neat touches and hold up play before producing two fine finishes to win the game for Arsenal.
It could now provide Arteta with something to contemplate moving forward as he seeks to deal with Arsenal’s lack of options in attack.
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