1. Match Overview & Result
- Competition: Premier League, Round 25
- Date/Time: February 15, 2025, 9:30 PM (KST)
- Venue: King Power Stadium (Leicester City home)
- Result: Leicester City 0-2 Arsenal
- Scorers (Arsenal):
- Mikel Merino – 81’ (Header), 87’ (Left-footed shot)
Arsenal secured a valuable three points at King Power Stadium with a 2-0 win over Leicester City, thanks to Mikel Merino’s brilliant brace in the closing stages of the match.
2. Starting Lineups
- Arsenal (4-3-3)
GK: David Raya
DF: Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhães, William Saliba, Myles Lewis-Skelly
MF: Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard
FW: Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling - Leicester City (4-2-3-1)
GK: Mads Hermansen
DF: Victor Kristiansen, Okoli, Wout Faes, James Justin
MF: Boubakary Soumaré, Wilfred Ndidi
AM: Bobby De Cordova-Reid, El Kanous, Jordan Ayew
FW: Jamie Vardy
3. Key Match Moments
- 81’
Ethan Nwaneri delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, and Mikel Merino rose highest to head home the opening goal, breaking the deadlock for Arsenal. - 87’
Leandro Trossard’s cross from the left flank found Merino again, and this time he converted with a powerful left-footed strike, doubling Arsenal’s lead. - 89’
Leicester’s Buonanotte attempted a close-range header, but it went narrowly wide of the post, ending the home side’s last real chance to get back into the game.
First Half Summary
- Arsenal dominated possession early, with Declan Rice’s header at the 15th minute going just wide. However, poor finishing from Raheem Sterling and Leandro Trossard meant they could not capitalize on their chances.
- Leicester were forced into an early substitution at the 42nd minute when James Justin was injured, replaced by Kalidou Koulibaly.
- Leicester’s El Kanous and Ndidi each fired off shots in stoppage time, but both were off target.
Second Half Summary
- Arsenal continued to press, but Ødegaard (57’) and Nwaneri (60’) both missed clear chances.
- At the 68th minute (23 minutes into the second half), Raheem Sterling was substituted off for Mikel Merino, altering Arsenal’s approach in midfield.
- Merino’s introduction shifted the momentum, resulting in two late goals (81’ and 87’).
- Leicester introduced Buonanotte and Patson Daka as they searched for an equalizer, but they failed to break down Arsenal’s defense.
Man of the Match: Mikel Merino (Arsenal)
Click the button below to watch the Premier League Round 25 Leicester City vs. Arsenal highlights.
4. Match Statistics
- Ball Possession: Leicester 40% | Arsenal 60%
- Total Shots: Leicester 6 | Arsenal 11
- Shots on Target: Leicester 2 | Arsenal 5
- Pass Accuracy: Leicester 72.8% | Arsenal 85.3%
- Expected Goals (xG): Leicester 0.22 | Arsenal 1.49
Arsenal maintained control for most of the match, underlining their dominance in possession, passing accuracy, and shot creation.
5. Tactical & Formation Analysis
- Leicester City (4-2-3-1)
Leicester aimed to utilize Jamie Vardy’s pace on the counterattack. However, struggles in midfield and lackluster defending led to vulnerabilities late in the game. - Arsenal (4-3-3)
Martin Ødegaard orchestrated play in midfield. Thomas Partey and Declan Rice provided stability and distribution, while Mikel Merino’s second-half introduction proved decisive—scoring two goals to seal the victory.
6. Match Summary & Future Outlook
Mikel Merino’s late brace made all the difference in this encounter. Leicester, hampered by injuries in defense and a lack of creativity in attack, could not recover after conceding the first goal. Arsenal, meanwhile, demonstrated depth and adaptability—Merino seamlessly stepped in to cover for the absent Kai Havertz, delivering a match-winning performance. With this victory, Arsenal picks up three crucial points and continues to push forward in the Premier League title race.
