Arsenal has found a surprising answer to their striker dilemma in the form of Mikel Merino, who scored twice in the later stages to lead his team to a 2-0 victory over Leicester City, a much-needed win that keeps Arsenal competitive in the Premier League title race.
As Arsenal faced the challenge of playing without leading scorer Kai Havertz, who is out for the season, their makeshift front trio struggled to pose a threat until Merino, typically a central midfielder, came off the bench at the 69th minute and made an impact up front.
Merino showcased his striking abilities by converting two excellent crosses; the first was a header from a precise delivery by 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri in the 81st minute, followed by a low assist from Leandro Trossard that he deftly directed into the net in the 87th minute. Arsenal’s struggle to acquire a striker during the January transfer window left manager Mikel Arteta with little choice but to deploy Merino in this unfamiliar role.
“It was unexpected for me to play in that position as it’s the first time in my career,” Merino admitted. He added that Arteta encouraged him to use his strengths and he felt he had successfully contributed to the match.
This victory narrows the gap between Arsenal and leaders Liverpool to four points, while Leicester remains entrenched in the relegation zone, trailing Wolves by two points.
Merino’s promising performance, along with the dynamic play of Nwaneri, indicates that he may have found an influential role within the team. Arteta praised Merino for his instincts and timing in the box, while Nwaneri continues to enhance his status with the club. The young talent hit the crossbar twice during the match and played a crucial role in setting up Merino’s first goal.
Meanwhile, Manchester City is also discovering new scoring options, though it may be too late for them to rekindle a title challenge. January signing Omar Marmoush dazzled with a 14-minute hat trick during a decisive 4-0 win against Newcastle, propelling City into fourth place in the standings.
Marmoush’s initial goal came after utilizing a long pass from goalkeeper Ederson. He then scored again after receiving a pass from Ilkay Gundogan and completed his hat trick shortly after when Savinho set him up inside the box. While City secured the game, there were concerns regarding Erling Haaland, who left the match with a potential knee injury.
In other matches, Nottingham Forest faced setbacks in their pursuit of a top-four finish, losing to Fulham, whose victory showcased the latter’s resilience despite their recent home struggles. Calvin Bassey netted the winning goal after Chris Wood had equalized for Forest.
Everton’s momentum continued under David Moyes, with Carlos Alcaraz scoring the game-winning goal against Crystal Palace, marking a remarkable turnaround for the club as they climbed to 13th place.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa played out a 1-1 draw with Ipswich, who are fighting against relegation, while Brentford edged West Ham 1-0. Bournemouth secured a comforting victory over last-placed Southampton with a scoreline of 3-1.
