Leicester 0-2 Arsenal: Player ratings as Merino saves the day at striker
- Arsenal snatch unconvincing 2-0 win away at Leicester
- Reserve forward line failed to impress
- Merino netted twice off the bench
By Tom Gott
Arsenal had stand-in striker Mikel Merino to thank as they snatched an unconvincing 2-0 victory away at Leicester City on Saturday.
With so many key forwards missing through injury, it came as no surprise to see Arsenal's front line struggle for fluidity. Starting striker Leandro Trossard had a handful of half-chances before the interval, but perhaps the best chance of the first half came with the penultimate kick as Wilfred Ndidi steered agonisingly wide.
There was definitely more energy about the Gunners in the second half. The lively Ethan Nwaneri struck the woodwork twice but Arsenal continued to struggle to create chances, with midfielder Merino brought off the bench to help fill the void in attack.
With ten minutes to go, it was Merino who saved the day, popping up with a header to guide Nwaneri's cross into the back of Mads Hermansen's net, and the Spaniard added a second in the dying embers with a smart tap-in at the back post to remove any doubt about the result.
Leicester player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Player | Rating |
|---|---|
GK: Mads Hermansen | 6.7/10 |
RB: James Justin | 6.7/10 |
CB: Wout Faes | 6.1/10 |
CB: Caleb Okoli | 5.9/10 |
LB: Victor Kristiansen | 6.1/10 |
DM: Wilfred Ndidi | 6.5/10 |
DM: Boubakary Soumare | 6.5/10 |
RM: Bobby De Cordova-Reid | 5.8/10 |
AM: Bilal El Khannouss | 6.4/10 |
LM: Jordan Ayew | 6.2/10 |
ST: Jamie Vardy | 6.5/10 |
SUB: Woyo Coulibaly (43' for Justin) | 7.0/10 |
SUB: Stephy Mavididi (75' for Ayew) | 6.7/10 |
SUB: Patson Daka (85' for De Cordova-Reid) | N/A |
SUB: Facundo Buonanotte (85' for Ndidi) | N/A |
Subs not used: Jakub Stolarczyk (GK), Conor Coady, Jannik Vestergaard, Harry Winks, Oliver Skipp
Arsenal player ratings (4-3-3)
Player | Rating |
|---|---|
GK: David Raya | 8.1/10 |
RB: Jurrien Timber | 7.4/10 |
CB: William Saliba | 7.2/10 |
CB: Gabriel | 7.6/10 |
LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly | 7.0/10 |
DM: Thomas Partey | 7.6/10 |
CM: Martin Odegaard | 7.2/10 |
CM: Declan Rice | 7.0/10 |
RW: Ethan Nwaneri | 8.9/10 |
ST: Leandro Trossard | 7.5/10 |
LW: Raheem Sterling | 6.5/10 |
SUB: Mikel Merino (69' for Sterling) | 8.5/10 |
SUB: Riccardo Calafiori (75' for Lewis-Skelly) | 6.3/10 |
SUB: Jorginho (75' for Partey) | 6.2/10 |
SUB: Kieran Tierney (89' for Trossard) | N/A |
Subs not used: Neto (GK), Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji
Player of the match - Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
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