A new hero: Makeshift striker Merino keeps pressure on Liverpool as brace helps Gunners win at Leicester

Leicester City 0

Arsenal 2 (Merino 81, 87)

Two late goals from makeshift striker Mikel Merino moved Arsenal to within four points of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

The Gunners had laboured for almost 70 minutes, but Mikel Arteta threw the dice and sent sub Merino up front with Declan Rice for the last 20 minutes.

And the gamble paid off when first the Spaniard headed home an Ethan Nwaneri cross from the left, then converted Leandro Trossard's centre from the opposite side six minutes later - goals which sent Leicester spiralling towards the trap door.

Arsenal had been woeful up front for the first 70 minutes of this match, with Leicester's fans taunting their opposite numbers with chants of "second again, ole, ole", but the game changed when Arteta dragged off the hapless Raheem Streling, put Trossard on the left and threw Declan Rice up front.

And the good, old fashioned - but these days lesser spotted 4-4-2 - worked a treat.

Arsenal's first chance came on eight minutes, Martin Odegaard's chip finding Trossard, but the Belgian was stretching for his volley which was easily saved by Mads Hermansen.

Leicester responded immediately when Wilfred Ndidi tested David Raya with a volley from just outside the box.

Rice looked to have a good chance after 16 minutes but James Justin did just enough to put him off his header which went wide.

Nwaneri was looking sharp on the right in the first half - but on the other wing it was painful to watch the once enthralling Sterling struggling badly.

Another Odegaard chip once again set up Trossard, but this time he completely missed his kick on the volley to spare the Foxes.

The best chance of the half came for the home side in injury time - Ndidi heading Victor Kristiansen's cross from the left just wide of Raya's left-hand post.

Arsenal continued to push in the second half and Nwaneri was inches away from giving them the lead on the hour. Rice's tireless work led to him winning the ball back in midfield and he freed skipper Odegaard. Odegaard helped it on to Nwaneri, who cut inside Caleb Okoli and fired a shot just over the bar.

At the other end Leicester had a great chance of their own. Jordan Ayew crossed from the left and as the ground waited for Bobby De Cordova-Reid to tap home, Myles Lewis-Skelly nicked the ball off him with a fantastic touch.

Back came Arsenal, a flowing move leading to another Nwaneri effort - the youngster this time smacking the post.

The Chelsea loanee was twice caught offside in the first half in unforgiveable positions, failing to look along the line. And his lack of pace means his previous biggest quality - his ability to beat his man on the wing, is simply no longer there.

Even his control let him down today. The travelling Gooners even cheered as he was eventually replaced by Merino.

And the change worked - the breakthrough goal finally coming on 81 minutes. Nwaneri, who was becoming more influential as the game went on, crossed perfectly for Mikel Merino to head home.

And Merino made it 2-0 later, converting Trossard's cross.

The Spaniard danced in front of the travelling Gooners at the end - they have found a new hero.

Arsenal are not giving up on this title.

Teams:

Leicester: Hermansen, Justin (Coulibaly 44), Faes, Okoli, Ndidi (Daka 85), Vardy, Khannouss, De Cordova-Reid (Buonanotte 85), Kristiansen, Ayew (Mavididi 75), Soumare

Arsenal: Raya, Saliba, Partey (Jorginho 75), Gabriel, Odegaard, Timber, Trossard, Sterling (Merino 68), Rice, Lewis-Skelly (Calafiori 75), Nwaneri

Referee: Sam Barrott