Two late goals from substitute Mikel Merino helped Arsenal to a battling 2-0 win over Leicester this afternoon.
It was a struggle at times, with Ethan Nwaneri shining for Mikel Arteta’s team, but it was hard to see where the goals would come from until the summer signing popped up with a good header a smart back-post finish.
Here’s how the players rated this evening.
Read the Leicester 0-2 Arsenal match report and see the goals here
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What a player Nwaneri is gonna become! Highest ceiling I’ve seen from a teenage gunner.
Not sure he’s gonna become anything. He already is. Forget his age. Just watch him.
Highest ceiling since Per Mertesacker was allowed to design his own office…
That is gold Salvador. Very funny.
Saw great runs from Merino in 25 min that Havertz haven’t in 2.5 years
Lost his markers beautifully for both the goals
Started like Havertz in midfield but maybe Striker is his true calling
Hoping for the form to continue
You can 100% criticise Havertz’s finishing, but movement I’m not so sure. Seems a weird comment after today’s game perfectly highlighted how much we miss him haha
Different player making different runs in different game states. Also look at the quality of the opposition today and how many attacking players they’d brought on by the time we scored the first goal- they virtually had no midfield.
Don’t think the comparison to Havertz is entirely fair (or justified)..;.but man, did he show up a certain Raheem Sterling! What an utterly toilet piece of business that was… did we learn nothing from the debacle that was Willy!
Sterling is a great deal from us. Loan, no obligation to buy, only paying half his salary.
He’s bad, but it was a deal worth trying.
Ain’t simply about the money – consider the opportunity cost of that blocked path to one of our own academy lads… Case in point, Mika Biereth: lit up the u21s but never more than an unused sub for us (on 4 occasions) sold to Sturm for just 4mil – scored 14 goals in half a season they trebled their money selling him to Monaco where he has already scored TWO hat-tricks in the past 2 weeks!! So… the lad is scoring for fun in Europe but couldn’t get an opportunity out of Hale End. And you reckon Sterling plodding a… Read more »
Yes but he has done it playing in farmers leagues.
Unfortunately, Sterling has gotten to farmers league level.
The very fact that Chelsea are paying half his wages pretty much tells us how good a business that was. Good strange from the start and only gotten worse.
Baffling transfer that Sterling one from start to finish
Nah Merino has been way better than Havertz was in midfield
Credit where credit is due, yes Merino converted those two elementary chances very efficiently but the hardest parts were executed by Nwaneri and Trossard’s sublime deliveries from the flanks. Not being marked by tiring defenders from the 2nd worst defence in the league is not the same as ‘losing your marker’
The Dubai effect! I hope I don’t jinx it
Good performance and solid result. Feel for Sterling, he looks to be trying but literally nothing coming off for him, looks way off it. Personally don’t think he was helped by Trossard, who did nothing through the middle other then try and compete with Sterling for the most offsides. All things considered a good result, and Merino looked super effective up top!
Apart from wonderful cross for second goal Trossard was as bad as Sterling. Real shame. Hoped they would both take the opportunity.
Tross spent most of the game being fouled, dunno what you’re on about.
Clearly 😂
Exactly – the uneducated eye craves sensational dribbling and curbing top-corner shots, but fails to notice the unceasing work harassing defenders, holding up play, drawing fouls and – yes! – putting in that one killer cross that can break a deadlock!
Mark these words – heaven forbid we lose Trosser now… he will leave a very large hole!
He’s been an impact substitute at best. That said, Sterling made Trossard look world class.
Trossard is best on the left where he is then able to come in from. Cant remember the circumstances around him being a false 9 before but tis just better ti keep our wingers out on the flanks as thats how the team has been set up to play.
I think we’re ahead of ourselves. Sterling may yet have an impact on this season, Merino a fabulous 20 minutes but a full 90 will give him different challenges. As arteta says, each situation is different and we’ll just have to adapt.
I found myself thinking something similar – would prob start Stirling again for west ham. Have him down the outside for 50 mins & then change the system. Don’t get me wrong – he was not good – but we managed the game knowing we don’t have a lot of bite & then closed out a poor team. West ham similar. Def would change it earlier to make sure we don’t run out of opportunities.
I would play Tierney on the left wing instead of Sterling.
I agree. Thought Sterling was just about OK in the first half (5.5 / 6) and absolutely abysmal (2) in the second half. The truth is we will need to give him minutes for at least the next month…..do we need to rethink him as a player who plays maximum 45 minute spells and tell him that is how it is going to be
I have been willing Sterling to show something… anything! But he really seems to be just a load of old toss!
Shadow of the irritating, dribbling menace he once was.
He contributed only getting caught in possession getting caught offside. I feel for the guy.His pitiful shot at goal that was deflected for a corner betrayed a man whose confidence is on the floor.
Maybe Sterling is suffering from the consequences of starting his career at the top level so early on, he’s only 30 but looks physically like a 34 yo player at the moment. Just goes to show the sheer pressure professional footballers have to put on their bodies.
Like the famous Wenger quote about a 34 yo Rosicky being “29 in football years”. The numbers might be a bit off…
Yep. Trossard was worse than Sterling until he moved out wide. At least Raheem tried. Leo was invisible bar a couple of air shots.
What a player Nwaneri is becoming. So much anticipation everytime he gets the ball.
He’s special. Motm.
And MERINO! So that’s why we bought him!! Well done big man, two great goals.
If we achieve anything this season, it’ll be because of Nwaneri. He really is frighteningly talented. Can anyone recall a more exciting talent at his age? Wilshere and Fabregas maybe, other than that I’m struggling
Lamine Yamal is the comparison that’s coming to mind at the moment.
MLS!
Genuinely as I was watching the match unfold(frustrating/flat at times), I found myself thinking haven’t been this excited about an Arsenal youngster since Cesc and Wilshere. Hope Arsenal nurture and mould him to be the star he is destined to be
Saka?
I dunno Petr – I don’t want to compare the two really, but I feel Nwaneri is further ahead than Saka was at the same age?
I’d probably agree with this.
Think it was obvious Saka was great when he came in but really he improved game on game.
Nwaneri seems an unbelievable talent. So mature and confident and intelligent. How lucky are we to have had both these come through the academy!
Saka was playing lb though wasnt he when he first came through?
Yes, he got his breakthrough opportunity from Unai Emery at LWB
Mslintat, apparently resigned because Raul and Emery opted to loan Suarez from Barca instead of promoting Saka.
Maybe that’s why I thought he got his debut under Freddie when he was caretaker and not Emery? 🤔
He seems more ‘streetwise’ than Saka was?
l would have to say Liam Brady.
Thought the captain was excellent all game. Role changed in the last half hour and his impact was more obvious but he progressive, silky, and threatening throughout. More of an 8.5/10 than a 7 imo.
Of course Nwaneri was MotM. What a player we have there. Could Saka end up on the left or one of them dropping back into an 8. Clearly they are both starters when fit.
Come a long long way from the
‘Willian wilderness’……. thank Dennis
Dreaming of ways Saka, Ö, and Nwaneri can impact a game together…
Yes I was frustrated with him first half, errant passes, but by the end he was full maestro mode. Special mention for Partey as well, aside from the bad giveaway right before he came off he worked so hard and was great in tight spaces. There’s not many I trust more than him and the captain to play through the middle
Mikel has already said it, Ethan can play 9. It’s a bit early for him physically, but probably from next season if not the next few months, if both Saka and Odegaard are fit that seems like the most obvious position for him to get a start.
Merino , like a new signing… 60 mil saved
Wake waka eyy eyy
60 million quid we saved
Merino scored again
Agree about Sterling, sad is really the right word. He’s trying, his off-the-ball movement is often quite good but he ends up falling over or running out of bounds.
Sterling has a burst of acceleration over 10-15 meters but if he doesn’t do something in that moment he’s beaten the man, he has nothing to offer. No real pace over distances so we need him to get himself into situations where he can isolate his marker but the team needs a plan for when/if he beats him because if that next action doesn’t happen straight after he stalls and kills our attacks
He lost the ball a number of times, and not once did he track back.
Its criminal!
His off the ball movement is
non-existent
Declan covered his arse throughout the match.
Declan is a warrior
Yep – unfortunately, much as I wanted and willed him to succeed, he’s basically little more than a waste of space.
Old dog, new tricks, maybe. Would love things to start clicking for him but the longer things go without signs of improvement, I fear it just won’t happen for him.
Staying onside shouldn’t be a new trick ffs. I do really want him to be useful for us, but the guy is tragic. 5-6 offsides in a row, wasn’t it?
Sterling is done. Has been for last two years. No more handwringing on this. Insane we took him.
Tierney or Calafiori have to start ahead of Sterling.
Tierney as a left forward could make a real impact. The pressing alone would be excellent
Honestly not a bad shout if he’s fit enough for it. Or on w/ MLS and able to swap roles. They would certainly limit opponents attacking down that side much more effectively. We’ve got bigger tests coming than the foxes and hammers.
Until he is injured in the 60th minute of the first game he starts!
I’d like to see Calafiori at LW
Or Zinchenko
Or Calafiori at LB with MLS ahead of him.
That’s more like it
MLS is unproven/untried further forward. Needs must I suppose….I’d prefer MLS at left back and Tierney as LW
Pfff! Fats should start ahead of Raheem in the league, and doc in Europe.
During the days leading upto the game, i was disillusioned and dejected with an overbearing sense of inevitability of a lost season. A sense of missed opportunity filled with rage thinking about what could have been. However as the days progressed, I came to accept that Football, like Life, is unpredictable and may foil our best laid plans. Yesterday after Mikel’s press conference, i was hopeful and thought maybe if we win this match, the morale of this team will lift and anything is possible after that. We have seen miracles happen in sports . With the win today, the… Read more »
Come on man! Through the amazing ups and downs of this season I kept one thought in mind, This team fights. You must love them and simp,y enjoy.
What a great comment, captures much of how I’ve been feeling these past few days. Thank you my friend. Keep the faith and COYG!
If Wolvee can take any points off Liverpool tomorrow it might be just the boost the team needs 🤞
Interestingly in our next game we will be the ones with the game in hand… so if Wolves, or more likely Villa, can nick something from Liverpool in the meantime we’ll be well and truly breathing down their necks. With Slot suspended for two games it makes things interesting.
Apparently no suspension for managers who recieve a red.
You can’t make this shit up.
Apparently Arns’ Slot will be on the touchline against Wolves
I don’t necessarily disagree with the broad gist of this but in three games against Newcastle, Man Utd in the cup plus Brighton away and Everton home there was negligible fight, resilience or passion on display by any of the team frankly
You say a routine header for Merino’s first, but that’s the exact kind of chance that Havertz was inexplicably missing!
I remember Merino missing similar chances as well. Let the man heal while we celebrate our newfound striker.
I didn’t mean it as a Havertz dig per se, Rice missed a near identical chance to equalize against Newcastle earlier in the season from a Saka cross. We need to be scoring from these “routine” chances, and thank goodness Merino did that today.
And Rice has missed loads like this too or put it straight at the keeper. It’s a very good header by Merino – a good chance very well taken. He scored a very similar one for Spain v Germany to put them through in the Euro 24 game of the tournament.
Not having a dig at Jesus or Havertz, but how much confidence would you have in either of them tucking away both of the those chances like Merino did?
The ability for the first goal, and the poise and skill for the second – my my!
If we bought a CF for 70m in the Jan window, and he scored both of them, we would have gone bonkers.
I was think exactly that – along the lines of: if that was Cesko, we’d all be saying ‘We told you so!’
Long may it continue.
The whole Arsenal fan-base would have given our 3rd choice goalkeeper stick if he’d missed either of those chances.
True story!
Exactly – and he’s not a ‘striker’…
Merino tucking those two chances away like that kinda proves the point on Havertz being a very poor finisher overall. Just think if we actually had a proven goalscoring threat leading the line this season…we’d be ahead of Liverpool and still in both cups. Havertz fanboys need to accept this as FACT.
You’re an abject misery who can always manage to find something negative whatever the situation. FACT. FACT. FACT.
I know, I feel your pain, the damn FACTS just keep getting in the way…
How much more do you want to see that Stirling is done. He created nothing for 70 minutes. Then was replaced by Merino as a makeshift No 9 who scored twice in the last 10 minutes.
On the other hand, another pair of great performances from the Hale end boys, especially Nwaneri. Two teenagers who look like they belong in the first team, with Nwaneri producing much of our most creative play. An assist and hitting the woodwork twice and still just 17.
Don’t start him. Bring him on to rest legs when we’re 2-0 up and holding the game. The most we can expect from him – other than polishing the other ads boots.
Probably right but I think there may also be a necessity to start him some games….but in the knowledge he can’t do more than a short stint.
Real happy for the team, as they are sticking together in spite of the great crisis we are in.
I am just plain sad to see Sterling, since I always admired him as a player, like Le Monsieur did too back in the day. I know he is trying, and we are supposed to get behind him when he plays. But he should not be starting for us again. That’s just plain common sense. Any of our full backs will be a better choice than him.
His body language when he traipsed off the pitch after being substituted was that of a man who had reached zero confidence left in the tank
What a team, they probably won’t win the league this season, but it’s coming!
COYG
Merino showed some great qualities up front. His awareness, his movement, his positioning (notice how he adjusted his positioning to Nwaneri’s cross while the ball was in the air), his calmness in front of goal. Very promising qualities.
Also Nwaneri is just too good not to play. When Saka comes back we need to find a way to play them both for sure. Peak Saka and peak Nwaneri together on the field would be amazing.
I’d be wary of over playing him though at such a young age. Course I want to see him but I also don’t want him burnt out or injured so young.
Or we could rotate the two, that way we don’t play either of them into the ground? Nwaneri will likely need to rotate with Odegaard too.
I just cannot understand Sterling anymore. He can’t dribble, he can’t cross, he can’t even get the basics right. I might as well put zinc or tierney or the flank to rotate. Thank fck we won. 13 more games to go…
I would have taken 1-0 to the arsenal if I am honest lol here is hoping we have enough to turn over westham!!! Definitely don’t play sterling, Tierney or Zinchenko on the left imo
Tierney would put in a good shift on the left wing in front of MLS
Finally. Now Ethan is ready to start every week we can play saka at left back when he’s fit.
Surely a joke…
Yes. A joke.
Because 1. He’s the third best winger on the planet. And 2. We have 17 left backs already. Is it funnier now that I’ve explained it ?
It always is, you know that
Olivier Giroud.
I’ve never really been convinced by what Merino brings to the team but I’m happily eating my words. Hopefully he can keep this up!
Timer deserves more praise and a higher score today. He was one of the few trying to take on players, good passing, defensively solid, really pushed everyone on!
*timber
If MLS had put in the performance that Timber gave today, his rating would be much higher than the 7 admin has given to Timber.
Timber is one of the best actual “defenders” in the league. Can’t think of many that I’d rather have one on one as the last man.
Attacking wise he is also getting better.
Need Ben White as an option. Defensively, Timber is one of the best in the league. Going forward, it’s definitely White, at the moment.
White and Saka as a right wing partnership are a deadly combination for any opposition. Not so convinced by White as an attacker when Saka is missing….
My biggest disagreement in the ratings is about Thomas. He was brilliant for all but his last minute or so on the pitch. Received the ball in tight spaces, never lost it, moved the team forward quickly, got Ødegaard on the ball. His chasing down Vardy shocked me–didn’t think he was still capable of that. He made a bad pass before being subbed–both the mistake and the substitution were unsurprising. He cannot go a full game anymore without errors at the end, but he plays 70 or 75 minutes like the player we wanted when he came from Atletico. I… Read more »
Never lost it?
Maybe rewatch the game.
Bollocks – maybe watch just how many of the good things we did went through him on transition.
He is always calm… he unhesitatingly makes himself available… he seldom loses the ball under pressure… he invariably finds an attacking pass, rather than the square-itis and reverse-passing that plagues the test of our def and mids (other than MLS)… he has a killler eye for a pass.
Yes, he made some errors but, given the sheer weight of numbers ito how much of the play he takes on, that’s to be expected.
‘rest’ of our def and mids…
He made one bad pass which almost led to a Leicester goal, (MLS to the rescue) but that aside, I thought Partey was our best midfielder
Agree. I don’t think most people realise the dramatic positive effect he has on this team, which is why Arteta virtually always plays him when available.
I think he ended with about a 50% passing rate, he was so sloppy and gave the ball away over and over. We controlled the match much better with Jorgi in the middle.
At least he’s aware and just posted an apology on Instagram, fair enough.
An apology for what ? Surely not that……..
For playing so badly.
His passing % was NOT ‘about 50%’ – unless of course, 87.5% is ‘about’ in Vonnie-World???
If you’re gonna hate on a valuable player, at least get your facts straight.
But that would probably require some actual thought and effort, wouldn’t it?
In a word… bollocks!
87% passing rate
We controlled the match better when Sterling came off
I love how much Nwaneri speeds up our attack. His touch or turn is always positive. I can’t remember the last time a player breaking into the team has had such confidence. He plays with no fear. It’s so exciting watching him play
Saka wasn’t exactly terrible.
Miles Lewis skelly ? Saliba ? Saka ? Emile smith Rowe ? How long you been a fan ?
Since 2006, that long enough for you? He’s special.
As much as I disliked Ruud in the past I thought he behaved in the gentleman’s way at the end of the game. Great win with Ethan and Merino outstanding. Marcin Wasilewski, former Foxes defender, who was on the polish viaplay panel, said Merino must stay as no 9 with Trossard on the wing from now on.
I hated him then, mostly for the club he played for. But the fact is RVN was a ridiculously good striker.
…and a diving cheat!!
And I met him once….and he came across as a reaally classy guy. It was so annoying!
He would have slipped on velcro
Haha
He behaved because Martin Keown met up with him pre-match for the first time in 20yrs.
I think Ruud shit himself.
I really dislike that cheating horse-face
He’s got an horses head he’s got an horses head
I don’t think Merino had a quiet career start. When he played he did well and chipped some goals.
Is difficult to displace the established MF trio of Odegaard, Partey and Rice. Initially as a squad/rotation player he is doing very well imho.
quite possibly the worst 70 minutes of Sterling’s career. Abject in everything he did. Brilliant at losing possession though.
Skelly started a winger put him there and Calafiori at
This is a bit harsh. He’s way off it but put in a couple of threaded balls into the box where there was noone as we didn’t have a typical 9.
Ruud van Dickleroy.
My hero.
One win in 10……. V spuds!
What a lovable twat
All the great stuff on display from Nwaneri and Merino aside, I though that yellow Jorginho picked up was just so lovely! We are making things happen with what we have, love it!
I was frankly disgusted it wasn’t a red and an 8 match ban. It was way worse than MLS’ against Wolves
That should be the last time we see Sterling on the pitch this season. Would rather have Tierney, Zinchenko, MLS, Timber or anyone else play out of position rather than have him play. He is just awful and a total waste of a position out there.
Nwaneri, what a talent and mindset!!
He wants to dribble past his opposing player, he wants to make the cross, he wants to shoot, he wants to attack, always! He wants a goal, not to go backwards.
What a breath of fresh air, what a player!
Rumour has it, Mikel Arteta rescued a fairy and got one wish, and wished to see a striker that has played for real sociedad, dortmund and newcastle score in Arsenal colours..
Thought timber was really superb today
Playing with sterling is really like playing with ten men- he offers nothing in attack or defense and he’s making the other players work harder and tire themselves out faster. Rice and MLS looked exhausted today, and that’s partly down to Raheem.
We played with ten men for 70 minutes but once Merino came on he looked impressive as a solution up front – hopefully Saka and Martinelli will return soon and we can press on – good result today but no thanks to Sterling…
Nwaneri and MLS are exciting young players – another one is Max Dowman – Mertesaker says he is the most talented player to come out of Hale End in his time there – Arteta wanted him involved this season but the premiership rules prevented that – looks a great player 🙂
Appreciate the Sterling analysis so much. Spot on, and with more compassion than vitriol. Thank you.
Might have been on late but
Calafiori played a decent part in that second goal didnt he? Worth a mention at least
as did odegaard
Sterling looks like a children’s tv programme presenter trying to play football for the first time.
Weird it is, but had a feeling that we would win it.. Although it’s not a long term solution with Merino up top, we can now mix it up now.. That unpredictable attack can help us.. Take a bow Ethan.. Stole my heart.. Most of our players are confidence guys.. Yes, we can criticize Raheem, but I feel he is a premier league goal away from what he can provide us.. Merino was slated until today.. Hope these two goals make him feel loved…(We have some fans that booed Eboue off, hated Ozil and termed Giroud as good for nothing..)… Read more »
Raheem should not start on the wing again. If he has anything left it’s poaching in the box, let’s see him up front before writing him off entirely.
Thomas Partey and Blogs… wtf?
So much that was good about our transitions went through him. Yes, there was the odd misplaced pass but only because he was so pivotal to everything.
Always makes himself available… always calm… always tries to play the attacking ball…
And yet MLS gets 7.5 and TP gets 6.5 – c’mon Blogs… it’s getting embarrassing, fella???
MLS stopped Leicester scoring a goal that Partey almost gave away. Work it out, ‘fella’
Outstanding. Take a bow, Merino. And several others.
As for Sterling – surely there is a spare mop lying around the stadium we can throw on instead?
Giraud of the week award goes to, Merino!
Giraud even!
Bloody auto correct… Giroud. Let me get my hat on the way out
Funny that we have now bought two players to play in the Xhaka role only for them both to be moved to striker and (so far) be quite effective. Maybe in the summer we buy a striker and play them in the 8 role? Merino has shown flashes this season so hopefully this game sees him kick on. He scored that massive goal for Spain against Germany in the Euros so he’s shown he can rise to the occasion. Nwaneri has just been a breath of fresh air. He has that gung-ho confidence that a lot of teenagers have before… Read more »
STERLING played himself out of the team… 😜 😂 😂
Still waiting to see Oyediji in action for the senior team…
Mika Biereth, anyone? Lad just bagged his 2nd hat-trick for Monaco, in 2 week!
That’s 21 goal and 6 assists in his 32 matches since we sold him for – wait for it – FOUR million.
Ta Edu!
Edu? Arteta let him go. Every player coming or going is Arteta’s decision.
I agree letting Biereth go was a major mistake. I said it at the time, he’s the next Halland.
The 4.5 for Sterling feels very “narrative-driven”. All eyes were on him with little hope, so his failings are magnified. He was better than Trossard while he was on the pitch, but Leo gets a 7.
Leo did not play in his natural position, Sterling did. The moment Leo was shifted to his natural position, he changed and we had better attacking impetus!
Sterling played in HIS natural position and performed poorly.
Leo was poor playing through the middle, but he did put it on a plate for Merino to present later to his wife
Nwaneri brilliant Merino smart and opportunistic Sterling abysmal must never start again!