15 February 2025
Leicester City 0 Arsenal 2
Van Nistelrooy’s side are running out of games to secure their Premier League survival. They welcomed an Arsenal side to the King Power who were reeling from the news that Havertz would be out for the rest of the season following a hamstring injury. This is a team who has been lacking a striker for some years and were now even further in the mire.
Lately you could write a large chunk of reports on Arsenal’s games before they are even played. They will dominate possession, passing it around from one side of the pitch to the other without asking any questions of the opposition goalkeeper. They were living up to their stereotype once again in this match. Fortunately for Arteta’s side, The Foxes were offering just as little going forward.
Leicester finally managed to create an opening when a ball dropped to Ndidi on the edge of the box. His volley was not caught well whatsoever and his resulting shot was straight at Raya in the Arsenal goal. This is where most newly promoted sides struggle, having players who are capable of taking the slightest of chances, which is required at this level.
The home fans were displaying banners showing their displeasure with the owners. They feel there has been a lack of investment since their return to the top-flight, almost as if the business plan is to get relegated and live off parachute payments for the next three years. At the King Power, they expect their team to give sides a difficult time, something that had become somewhat of a rarity.
Talking of which, Arsenal made Hermansen dive for the first time in the game when Sterling fired off a shot from the edge of the box. It took a huge deflection and went behind for a corner. The Gunners’ loan signing is less known for his goal involvements anymore. He only crops up in conversations about the game when the subject switches to corn row styles or sculpted beards.
When they signed him on loan from Chelsea in the summer, Gunners’ fans were hoping his career would kick-start and rediscover the form he once had at Man City. Currently, they would probably take him finding the player that once graced the pitch at Loftus Road for QPR. The visitors were looking even more toothless than usual in attack.
Odegaard was constantly trying to scoop passes over the Leicester defence to create openings. It worked on one occasion but Trossard had a complete air-swipe at the volley and the hosts were able to clear their lines. The former Brighton front man is another player who would never get anywhere near the starting line-ups of their rivals. Despite this, Arsenal fans still demand a title challenge.
The heavy rain was making it a slippery surface, giving fans hope that they may actually see a goal. Kristiansen whipped in a teasing ball from out wide but Ndidi headed narrowly wide of the far post. It was a big chance and he really should have scored from it. This is the clinical edge that van Nistelrooy’ side is severely lacking.
After the interval, the visitors tried to take it up a gear. Odegaard threaded a pass through to Nwaneri, who checked onto his stronger left foot. He let fly from outside the box and his curling effort kissed the top of the crossbar on its way through. It was the closest The Gunners had come to finding a goal in this game.
Arsenal’s Norwegian playmaker was then dispossessed just outside his own penalty area. Ayew played it into De Cordova Reid but his pacey shot was straight at Raya, who gathered at the second attempt. It would take some effort to beat the keeper from that sort of range. However, it all went to improving the stats of the hosts if it were any consolation.
The hosts almost opened the scoring when Partey gave the ball away. Ayew broke down the left while the Arsenal midfielder looked like he was running in quicksand, trying to get back. The Leicester attacker drilled a teasing ball across the goal but Lewis-Skelly did brilliantly to turn it behind for a corner before De Cordova Reid could convert at the back post.
Arteta opted to give Merino a chance to play up front, replacing Sterling in the process. He was involved as they looked to counter and it was worked to Nwaneri. The youngster strode into the box and unleashed a venomous strike with his right-foot that thundered against the post and came back into play. It was the second time he had hit the woodwork in the game.
As Leicester failed to clear their lines, Nwaneri clipped an inch-perfect cross into the middle. Merino rose to head into the bottom corner, completely unchallenged. The Spaniard had broken the deadlock with less than ten minutes remaining in the game. The away end erupted as it had seemed they were in danger of dropping points at the King Power.
The Foxes tried to throw players forward, in search of an equaliser. Arsenal managed to play through the press and counter-attack. Trossard swung in a cross towards the back post, where Merino arrived and swept past Hermansen to seal the victory. It was the first time in his career that he had played up front and the Spaniard had marked the occasion with a brace.
The Gunners moved to within four points of leaders Liverpool with victory. Leicester are still one winn away from getting themselves out of the bottom three. Easier said than done at times at this level though. For Arteta’s side, they just need to keep winning football matches and hoping their rivals drop points to stand any chance of challenging for the title this campaign.
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