Mikel Merino saw his shares of important games playing for Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle and Real Sociedad throughout his career. Deployed deeper in midfield, the Spanish international hardly found time to score some goals, but when he eventually did, those were important goals. At the EURO 2024 quarter-final game against Germany, he came as a sub and scored the winner, which helped Spain reach the finals, and defeat England 2-1. And today, he also came as a sub in the 70th minute and scored two goals which are keeping his team in the Premier League title race: Leicester – Arsenal 0-2.🚨🏴 GOAL | Leicester 0-1 Arsenal | Mikel MerinoMIKEL MERINO OPENS THE SCORING FOR ARSENAL IN THE 80TH MINUTE !!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/DmbX5WXijv— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) February 15, 2025 Before he came on, the Gunners were desperate. In a boring game in which both teams managed only one shot on goal in the first hour of the game (Leicester in the 10th minute), coach Mikel Arteta was desperate to change something, but he couldn‘t do much. With Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli all sidelined, he played with only three forwards he had: Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri. The first two were pale to say at least and Sterling was replaced by Merino. A forced substitution by all means, but boy did it worked! The Spanish international scored a brace in the space of six minutes and made the current title race a bit more exciting. Thanks to his goals and Everton‘s late equalizer in the Merseyside derby, the difference between the Gunners and Liverpool is now just four points. Arsenal were unbeaten in each of their last 14 Premier League games (W9 D5) and haven’t gone longer without suffering defeat in the competition since between December 2010 and April 2011 under Arsene Wenger (16 games). The streak continued, but only due to Merino‘s awareness in front of the goal. The only one worth mentioning in the game was the youngster Ethan Nwaneri. Young Gunner had two great chances in a game where opportunities were hard to come by and surely provides a great boost for Areta‘s squad planning.🚨🏴 GOAL | Leicester 0-2 Arsenal | Mikel MerinoMIKEL MERINO DOUBLES THE LEAD FOR ARSENAL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/CEvvqkjuZv— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) February 15, 2025 The first half was one of the poorest for the Gunners this season, clearly due to their offensive players‘ absence. The guests were dominant as expected, but couldn‘t do anything meaningful in the first 45 minutes. There were only two good chances in this part of the match, and they were both missed by Leicester‘s Wilfred Ndidi. The Nigerian midfielder had an opportunity in the 10tg minute, but his shot at the goal went straight at Raya. The same player had much better chance in injury time, but his header went wide of Raya‘s far post.Mikel Merino is the first Arsenal substitute to score two goals in a Premier League away game since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang against Fulham in October 2018. It’s the first time he has ever scored a brace in the top five European leagues. ⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/kB3fnAK1gT— Squawka (@Squawka) February 15, 2025 Arsenal‘s first serious chance of the game came after one hour of play. Partey found Odegaard, who passed the ball to Nwaneri and the youngster took a shot, and missed goal by centimeters.Then Merino came in and he had one opportunity immediately, but he was just inches late to use Nwaneri‘s cross to the far post. Leicester had the golden opportunity to take the lead just minutes later. Ayew had the ball and passed it inside the goal area from the left. Decordova-Reid was waiting it for a simple tap-in, but 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly miraculously managed to tip the ball enough to force a corner. Nwaneri was again close in the 76th minute but his shot ended off the post. However the youngster assisted to Merino, who scored the much needed goal for Arsenal, and confirmed the victory minutes after that with a brace for the final 2-0.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 25Friday Brighton – Chelsea 3-0 (2-0)/Mitoma 27, Minteh 38, 63/Saturday Leicester – Arsenal 0-2 (0-0)/Merino 81, 87/18.00: (1.42) Aston Villa (4.60) Ipswich (7.50)18.00: (2.25) Fulham (3.45) Nott.Forest (3.45)18.00: (1.95) Man.City (4.10) Newcastle (3.70)18.00: (6.00) Southampton (4.30) Bournemouth (1.53)18.00: (2.40) West Ham (3.75) Brentford (2.90)20.30: (1.90) Crystal Palace (3.50) Everton (4.60)Sunday 17.00: (1.20) Liverpool (8.00) Wolverhampton (14.0)19.30: (2.50) Tottenham (3.75) Man.Utd. (2.75)***odds are subject to change***
