Arsenal moved within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool after Mikel Merino's late double saw off struggling Leicester City 2-0.

No doubt handed a boost by Everton’s last-gasp equaliser in Wednesday's Merseyside derby, Arsenal took the chance to close the gap on Liverpool, though they had to be patient on Saturday.

An uneventful first half saw little goalmouth action, with Wilfred Ndidi’s volley from the edge of the box comfortably gathered by David Raya, with the Leicester midfielder also going close with a header just before the break. 

The impressive Ethan Nwaneri then struck the woodwork twice, with his first effort kissing the crossbar before his fierce right-footed strike was pushed on to the post by Mads Hermansen. 

After losing Kai Havertz to a season-ending injury, Mikel Arteta went without a recognised forward at the King Power Stadium, and Arsenal ultimately required a superb substitute cameo from Merino.

Deployed up top after replacing Raheem Sterling, Merino headed in from Nwaneri's superb cross – the youngster having earlier struck the woodwork twice – to break the deadlock in the 81st minute.

Merino doubled his tally six minutes later, sealing a victory that consolidates Arsenal’s place in second, while Leicester remain in the bottom three, two points from safety.

Data Debrief: No Havertz? No problem

Arteta expressed his disappointment at Arsenal not being able to add to his attacking ranks in the January window, but perhaps the solution to his recent attacking woes was already in his ranks in north London. 

Indeed, Arsenal started a Premier League game without any of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus or Havertz for the first time since their final game of the 2020-21 season against Brighton, but it mattered little against Leicester after Merino's late showing.

Merino became the first Arsenal player to score twice as a substitute in a Premier League game since Martinelli against Crystal Palace in January 2024 and the first to do so away from home since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang against Fulham at Craven Cottage in October 2018.

Four of the Spaniard's five Premier League goals have put his side one goal in the lead, including three of his four strikes for Arsenal this term (vs Liverpool, Brentford & his opener today against Leicester – also one for Newcastle), though his latest one may be his most crucial.