Mikel Arteta responds to Arsenal’s crucial victory at Leicester | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta reflected on Arsenal’s vital win over Leicester City, praising Ethan Nwaneri, defending Raheem Sterling, and explaining Mikel Merino’s unexpected heroics.

As the Gunners closed the gap on Liverpool, Arteta addressed the title race, tactical shifts, and his squad’s adaptability.

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Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal’s second-half improvement as they secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Leicester City, closing the gap on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

Speaking after the match, Arteta praised Ethan Nwaneri’s impact, defended Raheem Sterling, and discussed his tactical decisions, including the introduction of Mikel Merino, who scored both goals despite never having played as a striker before.

The game started slowly for Arsenal, with Leicester defending well and the visitors struggling to impose themselves.

Arteta acknowledged this, admitting: “The first 25 minutes we struggled to get momentum.” However, as the match progressed, he saw a significant shift. “The second half was very different, much more urgency. You could sense the game was going in the right direction.”

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A standout performer was Ethan Nwaneri, whose confidence and skill drew comparisons to Lionel Messi from Joe Cole after the match. Arteta, while keen to temper expectations, acknowledged the 17-year-old’s talent: “Let him play. He’s a massive threat, a massive talent.”

The key moment in the game was the introduction of Mikel Merino, who, despite being a midfielder, was thrown into a centre-forward role and delivered two crucial goals.

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Arteta explained the timing of the change, saying: “The game was starting to suit him more.” When asked about the comparison to Marouane Fellaini, given Merino’s aerial ability, Arteta was quick to dismiss it. “I didn’t think about him to be fair. Mikel is a goal threat, he’s got really good timing. He has the capacity to execute with that part of his body.”

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With Arsenal missing Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli, questions remain about how the team will handle their attacking limitations in the coming weeks. Arteta acknowledged that Merino might not be the long-term solution up front but stressed that flexibility is key. “Yeah, we’re going to have to share that. If a player is not performing, a yellow card or fatigue. We have prepared for those scenarios.”

Raheem Sterling, who was tasked with leading the line in the absence of a natural striker, endured another difficult outing. Arteta admitted that he, along with the entire team, needed more rhythm. “Yeah, and as well I think from everybody. Especially in the first 25 minutes, we were not in the game.”

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One of the game’s most technically brilliant moments came from Myles Lewis-Skelly, whose exquisite first touch to stop a certain Leicester goal was widely praised. Arteta admitted he didn’t fully appreciate it in real time but was left impressed after reviewing it. “I didn’t see and watched a replay afterwards and it was amazing.”

Arsenal’s victory keeps them firmly in the title race, reducing the gap to Liverpool to four points. The resilience shown in this win, coupled with Nwaneri’s growing influence and Merino’s unexpected heroics, has given Arteta’s side belief that, even without key players, they have the tools to sustain their challenge.

“Yeah, and it was [important] for us as well. It was a lot of noise as well to show how much we want it. To believe in the resources and show that we want it.”