Arsenal travelled to old rival Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City side looking to build momentum in the race for the Premier League title.
Arsenal grinded their way to a vital 2-0 win thanks to late heroics from substitute Mikel Merino, who starred in a central striker role.
Mikel Arteta broke a 1364 day record by not having one of Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli or Kai Havertz in the starting line up.
It was replacement Ethan Nwaneri that stepped up with an assist for Merino and was excellent throughout the game with his positivity and sublime technique.
Arteta will know that is three vital points in the bag for his Gunners side, here are the winners and losers from the Premier League clash with Leicester.
Winners from Arsenal’s clash with Leicester City
Mikel Merino
Arsenal fans want Merino to start centre forward as the Gunners struggle to adapt to a number of injuries in attacking areas.
With the game at 0-0, Arsenal were really struggling to break down a stubborn Leicester defence and Merino replaced Sterling to play in an unconventional and unfamiliar centre forward role.
Merino headed home a beautiful Nwaneri cross before calmly dispatching a Leandro Trossard cross on the volley late on to clinch three points for the Gunners and give his best performance in an Arsenal shirt.
Ethan Nwaneri
Nwaneri’s stock continues to rise. Joe Cole claimed he was the country’s best young player before the game and he certainly warranted that praise with his performance.
He drove Arsenal forward in a dull first half performance, taking responsibility on the ball like an experienced, seasoned pro rather than the 17-year-old kid that people sometime forget he is.
Nwaneri’s cross to Merino opened up the game and he was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself after rattling the bar with a ferocious shot in the second half.
Mikel Arteta
He has had a tough week in losing Martinelli and Havertz to injury and with ten minutes remaining, the Spanish boss was witnessing his side’s title challenge fade away.
It was a bold call to play Merino in the striker position and ultimately it has paid off and Arteta deserves all the credit for his move. He could have unlocked a crucial option going forward in the rest of the campaign.
Losers from Arsenal’s clash with Leicester City
Raheem Sterling
Sterling is an England international and has won the Premier League on numerous occasions. The frustration is that supporters and the club know the quality that Sterling possesses but he is simply not producing.
He was slow, lethargic and often indecisive in his performance and was dragged off halfway through the second half with his side in desperate need of a goal.
Whether he can be relied on for the rest of the campaign remains to be seen but it is clear that it is now or never for Sterling in an Arsenal shirt.
Stan Kroenke
Arsenal may have won but supporters will know that it is going to be an uphill battle to win any silverware this season if that performance is the new standard.
Arsenal fans are furious with Stan and Josh Kroenke after their lack of transfer ambition in January and this performance would have done nothing to ease those concerns.
Kroenke has let Arteta and the club down and he is very fortunate that this Arsenal side show so much character in their efforts.
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