Arsenal player ratings as 10/10 'stakes his claim' and 'dangerous' attacker lands 9/10 in Leicester City win

Arsenal picked up a big three points away to Leicester City on Saturday afternoon, breaking the home side’s resolve in the second half thanks to their new false nine - substitute Mikel Merino.

Arsenal dominated the first half but were thwarted by a low Leicester City block that made it difficult to create any space, and especially without a striker - Leandro Trossard playing a false nine role. The Gunners did improve in the second half and began to create more space with more coherent attacks.

Ethan Nwaneri whistled a long range effort just wide and then got closer 10 minutes later, rattling the post with a powerful effort. The pivotal moment did come from Nwaneri, who provided the perfect cross for substitute Mikel Merino to head home, the Spaniard rising high and finding the far bottom corner.

Merino then put in a double stake for his claim to be Arsenal’s new lead man in attack, getting on the end of a well-placed Leandro Trossard cross and stroking home at the back post. That wrapped up the points for the Gunners, and here we rate the players from their very sound performance.

David Raya - 7

Raya was very rarely troubled other than a first half header wide of the post.

Myles Lewis-Skelly (Off at 74’) - 7

Got forward plenty to offer Arsenal a few overlap opportunities. Defensively, Lewis-Skelly provided a heroic touch to deny Bobby De Cordova-Reid a tap-in in the 73th minute.

Gabriel Magalhaes - 7

In full control at the back, with Leicester rarely afforded a side at goal.

William Saliba - 7

The same goes for Saliba, who will be happy with his performance here.

Jurrien Timber - 6

Solid for the most part, but Timber did get caught forward a couple of times, exposing his defensive teammates and forcing Partey into a sprint to cover the ground. Arsenal were very unlucky not to concede from one of those incidents just past the 70-minute mark.

Thomas Partey (Off at 74’) - 7

Did a very solid job, keeping Arsenal in control in the midfield and covering defensively when full-backs were further up.

Declan Rice - 8

Dominant in the midfield and helped Arsenal control possession for the most part, always working to quickly win the ball back when the hosts did get it.

Martin Odegaard - 6

It was hard for Odegaard to find space for the large part. He did put in a nice chipped ball in the first half that almost created a good opportunity, but he was a drowned out for large spells, at least in terms of his usual creativity. Odegaard’s best moment came in the lead up to the second goal, when he brought the ball out of defence and got Arsenal out of trouble by finding Calafiori and setting a counter attack in motion.

Ethan Nwaneri - 9

Arsenal’s most dangerous player in large spells, showing quick feet and plenty of intent. He came close with a very good long range effort on the hour mark. He then hit the post with another fine effort in the 75th minute. Frustrated by his own efforts but not defeated, Nwaneri provided an inch-perfect cross for Merino for the goal.

Raheem Sterling (Off at 65’) - 5

Plenty busy, but Sterling needs some confidence. He is taking players on but struggling to beat them, and he’s certainly capable of it. This wasn’t an overly poor performance, but Arsenal need their wingers to be causing more problems than Sterling managed here.

Leandro Trossard (Off at 89’) - 6

Struggled in the false nine role. It wasn’t an easy one to play against a Leicester system that forced Arsenal to find space in a phone box, though, and in those sorts of games, Arsenal need someone with a bit more stature than Trossard. Having said that, he did provide the odd nice pass when dropping in, and he set up a good Nwaneri effort on the hour mark. Trossard looked more comfortable out wide when Merino came on, and he provided a nice assist for the second goal.

Substitutes

Mikel Merino (On at 65’) - 10

Merino provided the perfect header get Arsenal the three points. With his stature and positional ability, he is the logical choice to play the false nine role, and the evidence was in his movement and superb header here. He then added a second goal by popping up at the back post and finishing nicely.

Jorginho (On at 74’) - 6

Solid in the midfield after coming on, replacing Partey nicely.

Put together a fine run in the build-up to the second goal, bursting out of defence before freeing Trossard down the left.

Not enough time to impact the game, which was won at 2-0 when he came on.