Mikel Merino came on as a late substitute and scored a brace in his first-ever attempt at playing up front. ‘It’s first time I have played as a striker’: Merino embraces new position with brace vs Leicester. Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out for the season, Arteta has been left with a huge problem as to who will play in the number nine position. The Arsenal boss played Belgian forward Trossard up front but the move did not work and was forced to make the substitution at the 70th-minute mark. Ethan Nwaneri and Miles Lewis-Skelly need to be given their flowers as well. The former was the only Arsenal player to show any kind of tooth up front and rattled the woodwork twice before providing the assist to Merino’s first goal. Full-back Jurrien Timber rained praises on the young duo and said that he believes ‘the sky is the limit for them’ ‘You almost forget they are so young. They are amazing for that age. It’s from a different level and the sky is to the limit,’ said Timber to BBC Sport.
