Arsenal battled through a frustrating game at Leicester City before two late goals from Mikel Merino secured a vital 2-0 victory, keeping their Premier League title hopes alive.
Leandro Trossard started as a false nine, flanked by Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling, but the makeshift front line struggled to break down a Leicester side desperate for points.
The visitors controlled possession yet lacked precision in attack. Trossard squandered two promising chances, unable to sort out his feet in time to convert, while Sterling’s decision-making let him down.
Nwaneri, Arsenal’s liveliest player, whipped in dangerous crosses and struck the bar just after the hour mark, but frustration grew as Leicester stood firm.
Despite Arsenal’s dominance, the best opportunity of the first half fell to Leicester. Just before the break, Victor Kristiansen’s pinpoint cross found Wilfred Ndidi unmarked in the box, but the midfielder glanced his header wide.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Arsenal probing but failing to find a breakthrough.
Nwaneri went close again, curling a shot just past the post, while Sterling had a half-chance after being set up by Declan Rice.
Sensing the need for a change, Arteta made a bold call, replacing Sterling with Merino. The move proved decisive.
However, before Arsenal could capitalise they were nearly punished at the other end, as Myles Lewis-Skelly produced a vital back-post intervention to deny Bobby De Cordova-Reid a certain goal.
The momentum finally shifted when Nwaneri delivered an inch-perfect inswinging cross into the area.
Merino timed his run to perfection, rising between Leicester’s defenders to nod past Mads Hermansen. The relief was palpable.
Leicester attempted to respond, but Arsenal held firm. With three minutes remaining, they put the game beyond doubt.
Riccardo Calafiori surged forward from defence, feeding Trossard, whose curling cross found Merino at the back post for his second goal.
It was a crucial result after recent setbacks. They had to dig deep, adapt to unfamiliar roles, and rely on moments of quality to break Leicester down.
With the gap to Liverpool now down to four points, they will hope the league leaders falter against Wolverhampton Wanderers to keep their title ambitions alive.
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