Despite failing to field a recognized striker on the pitch due to injuries, Arsenal continued their push for the Premier League title with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City.
Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino was introduced in the second half, playing as a striker rather than his preferred position, the Euro 2024 winner scored twice to down Leicester on Saturday.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has now insisted that it was a roll of the dice as much as informed opinion that prompted him to throw on Merino in the dying stages.
According to Arteta, despite their injury problems in the final third, his team are still in the title race – because they can still score from anywhere.
Mikel Merino celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and Arsenal FC.(Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
He said: “We needed to show how much we wanted it – that regardless of what happens, we’re really going for it.
“We believe in the resources we have and the quality of our players that we can still adapt and be competitive and win a lot of matches. We can still score. It can be a set piece. It can be in various ways.
“The team has a lot of capacity in open spaces where we are dangerous as well. We had the ability to run – that’s what we needed. We’re a threat from every situation.”
Following Arsenal’s victory on Saturday, Liverpool cemented their dominance at the top with a 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Goals from Luis Diaz and Salah saw the Reds pick up an important victory, with Liverpool earning all three points despite Wolves threatening a late comeback after Matheus Cunha’s second-half strike.
