Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli react to Arsenal win over Leicester with message to Mikel Merino

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Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have shown their love to the side and Mikel Merino following the victory over Leicester City in the Premier League.

It comes after a difficult match in the Midlands, where Mikel Arteta was forced into making some changes in his frontline.

Kai Havertz picked up a hamstring injury in Dubai over the break, ending his season and leaving the side with no recognised senior centre-forward.

While many debated what the manager may do, Arsenal started with all three remaining forwards up front, starting Leandro Trossard as the striker option.

It didn’t quite work out though as the home side’s stubborn defence kept the visitors at bay for the majority of the match.

Then up steps Mikel Merino, who came from the bench and traded his usual midfield duties for the centre-forward role.

A huge brace from the Spaniard handed Arsenal all three points and a new option to ponder in the striker ranks going forward.

• READ MORE: ‘One of the best wingers in international football’ has just decided that he wants to join Arsenal

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli react to Arsenal win over Leicester

Arsenal’s win over Leicester saw them crank the pressure up on Liverpool slightly, with four points separating the teams until the Reds play their game in hand.

The Merseyside outfit are fresh from losing their heads in a 2-2 draw with Everton in the Merseyside Derby, so it remains to be seen whether they can dispatch Wolves in their following game to retain a seven-point gap or if yet more dropped points are ahead.

All Arsenal can do is keep up the pressure and hope any slip along the way will open up a gap for them to slide into first position.

In the meantime, the players and fans have enjoyed another memorable win, with plenty of reaction filtering through.

Some of which came from an injured duo of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on Instagram.

Saka posted the scoreline with a post from the club and a picture of Mikel Merino, captioning it: “Mikel Merinoooooooooo” with a music note and love-heart eyes emojis.

Meanwhile, Martinelli posted the same image, but opted for a wordless tribute to the win, posting six love hearts instead.

It shows just how invested those players on the sidelines are with the team’s current battle, who will be eager to join it at any moment.

• READ MORE: Alan Shearer reveals what Mikel Merino changed for Arsenal with striker shift against Leicester City

Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League challenges

After victory at Leicester, Arsenal face a bit of a twist in terms of Premier League fixtures just around the corner.

A clash with West Ham at the Emirates Stadium could help build some more confidence though trips to Nottingham Forest and Manchester United await.

Arsenal then welcome Chelsea and Fulham back at their place in a run of three London derbies in a row at home.

A few things may be seen as going in Arteta’s favour though as none of these upcoming opponents are in good form, while injury returns are pencilled in for early March.