Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz believes Arsenal’s victory against Leicester City this afternoon has forced the club’s critics to abandon their pre-prepared complaints.
The Gunners struggled in the first half, looking far from their best and failing to create enough clear-cut chances. Leicester, despite their lowly position in the table, proved to be stubborn opponents, frustrating Mikel Arteta’s men with a well-organised defensive display.
Arsenal improved after the break, but they still found it difficult to break down a resilient Leicester side that looked determined to take something from the match. As the minutes ticked away, it seemed inevitable that Arsenal would drop two crucial points, with their title challenge taking another blow.
However, Mikel Merino stepped up when it mattered most. Introduced from the bench, the Spaniard became the unlikely hero, scoring twice late on to rescue Arsenal and ensure they remained in the title race. His match-winning performance spared the team from a week of intense scrutiny and criticism.
Blitz summed up the significance of the result on Sky Sports, saying:
“The critics were waiting for Arsenal, internal and external.
“It looked like they didn’t have enough up top. It looked like the failure to act in January would cost them.
“But up stepped Mikel Merino, of all people, to be Arsenal’s centre forward for the final few minutes. He scored twice.
“Edging past second-bottom in the table isn’t the sign of champions, but the bouncebackability from setbacks is.”
Blitz’s assessment is spot-on. Even some Arsenal fans had begun voicing their frustration during the game and would have turned against Arteta and his players if they had failed to secure all three points. The pressure was mounting, but Merino’s intervention silenced the doubters—at least for now.
Merino will undoubtedly remember this performance for a long time. His unexpected heroics raise an interesting question: who needs a new striker when you have Merino in your squad?
ADMIN COMMENT
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You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
The writer is right, most armchair managers wanted a big new shiny toy during the recent winter window.
But the gaffer stated that the solution had to come from within, whatever the reason was for no new additions, Arsenal find the resources to get the right result
No worries to Arsenal, you got everything in your squads ( senior team and junior team ).. don’t bother to go find superstar player from outside the team.. none of them are not suitable to the way of Arteta style of play.. stick to what you had and go win the EFL crown for us.. go gunners
Merino is the perfect guy way forward but let’s maintain the front 3 as a starter they need to gel.Merino is a supper sub
Well, we need a new striker.
Merino stepped up and his post match interview portrayed the type of character Arteta prefers. I’m not seeing any sign from the team that they are not working together and the backs against the wall scenario just might give much needed impetus
Pundits change their minds on a daily basis. It wasn’t that long ago that Maresca was the greatest thing since sliced bread and on the basis that Newcastle stuffed us, we needed the far superior Howe apparently. The one manager in the league that has slipped under the radar until recently is Arteta’s countryman Iraola at Bournemouth. I’ve been watching his progress with interest but the rumour mill suggests that he’s of interest to Spurs.
No.. we dont need any striker.. all arsenal player are striker in natural, even the goal keeper can be a striker if you let him play upront..
Now I know the clubs need for a striker, I’ve banged on about it more than enough as fellow poster’s on here will know.
But even I’m going to give that subject a miss for the rest of the season, because we’ve just got to deal with what we have until the end of the season.
Then and only then will I be back on my Striker rant’s, depending what the club do or don’t do regarding forward options.
But for now, all we can do is hope that both the team and the manager get more decisions right than wrong for the remainder of the season.😉👍