Mikel Merino was Arsenal’s surprise hero when the Gunners beat Leicester City 2-0 at the King Power Stadium.
Upon returning from the mid-season training camp in Dubai, there was a feeling of deflation rather than a boost surrounding the Arsenal squad.
Mikel Arteta led his side to Leicester to face the relegation candidates with just three fit senior attackers after Kai Havertz’s season-ending injury.
As the game ticked away, fear set in as Arsenal couldn’t break the deadlock until a new hero emerged, seeing Merino score a late brace to take all three points back to N5.
Mikel Merino matches Cesc Fabregas’ Arsenal Premier League record
Several Arsenal players underperformed against Leicester but, Arteta was fortunate enough to find joy from a rather barren bench.
Merino scored twice as he came on to act as a makeshift striker, ironically scoring two goals that required a clinical edge.
By scoring his brace, the Spaniard not only won the game for the Gunners but, wrote his name into the record books.
As data expert Harvey Downes relayed, for only the second time in Arsenal’s Premier League history, a player came off the bench to score the first two goals of a league fixture.
The first and only time it happened was 16 years ago when Cesc Fabregas completed the feat against Aston Villa.
Merino has joined his countryman in Arsenal history with a memorable match-winning contribution against the Foxes.
Merino proved doubters wrong with Leicester cameo
While Merino only spent 21 minutes on the pitch, his contribution was as good as anyone’s, scoring twice from his only two attempts on goal.
It was ironic as prior to the game, Paul Merson was worried for Merino as it came to light that Arteta was contemplating testing the midfielder as a forward.
The Arsenal icon will happily eat his words as the summer signing secured three crucial points for the Gunners, who closed the gap on the league leaders Liverpool to just four points.
Whether Merino can repeat his clinical cameo is yet to be seen, with Arteta surely inspired by his bold substitution at the King Power.
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