Mikel Arteta's Arsenal continue their relentless pursuit of the Premier League title, closing the gap on leaders Liverpool to just four points after a dramatic late win against Leicester City. Mikel Merino's double off the bench proved decisive, showcasing his ability as a makeshift forward in the absence of injured duo Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. Arsenal's victory comes on the heels of Liverpool's draw against Everton, setting up a thrilling title race with 13 games remaining.
Mikel Arteta has issued a warning to Liverpool , asserting that Arsenal will not relent in their pursuit of the Premier League title. This statement comes on the heels of Arsenal 's dramatic late victory against Leicester City, just days after Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Everton. The Gunners have closed the gap on Liverpool to a mere four points thanks to Mikel Merino 's remarkable brace off the bench.
Merino, deployed as a makeshift forward in the absence of the injured Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, proved instrumental in securing the victory. This impressive win, achieved without any recognized strikers on the field, coincided with Everton's James Tarkowski netting a stunning 98th-minute equalizer at Goodison Park, preventing Liverpool from securing a full three points. The spotlight now turns to Liverpool's upcoming clash against Wolves, broadcast live on Super Sunday. Arteta remains adamant that his team will mount a serious challenge to the league leaders with 13 games remaining for Arsenal. When asked about his message to Liverpool, Arteta emphasized the team's unwavering determination, stating, 'We really want it. Regardless of what happens or the difficulties we're going to face, we're going to give this a real go. The team wants it, we've had seven or eight months working on that. We're not going to stop, let's see how far we can go!' Arsenal's current unbeaten streak in the top flight extends to 15 games, with 10 victories achieved during this impressive run. However, they now face a demanding set of fixtures as they prepare to confront West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, and Chelsea over the next month. Arteta acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, 'It's a decent week. Let's see what happens. We can only do what's in our control. But you come to any ground and it's a nightmare. It's difficult, you have to be at your best to win. It's going to be a long run.' The tactical decision to deploy Merino as a makeshift forward proved pivotal in securing the victory against Leicester. Initially, Leandro Trossard led the line for Arsenal, but his performance was lackluster. With time running out, Arteta made a crucial substitution, bringing on Merino and shifting Trossard out wide. Within minutes, Arsenal's fortunes had turned, with Merino scoring two quickfire goals. Arteta revealed that he had confidence in Merino's ability, stating, 'That he was going to score. He's a real goal threat. The moment they started moving deeper and we were more set in the final third, we thought he could deliver those moments. But it's easier to say it than get it done! Mikel has never played as a nine. But he has that timing, he can smell danger, anticipate danger. And then he can execute it.
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