The reasons why Arsenal should not abandon Mikel Merino experiment at Nottingham Forest - Gunners were toothless in attack against West Ham but Arteta should persist with Merino

Injury-hit Arsenal close the gap on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League thanks to a late Mikel Merino double

Ethan Nwaneri had been a rare bright spark for Arsenal up until then, but after some brilliant defending from Myles Lewis-Skelly and the two goals from Merino, Arsenal are now four points behind Liverpool, who play Wolves on Sunday. Jordan Campbell breaks down the talking points from the King Power Stadium.

Report and free match highlights as Arsenal secure 2-0 win against Leicester City away from home; Mikel Merino climbs off the bench and nets quickfire double while operating as a makeshift forward; Arsenal close the gap to four points on leaders Liverpool;

He may not play up top every week but Mikel Arteta has stumbled upon a possible solution to Arsenal’s injury criris.

Mikel Merino, the unlikely striker, scored two goals off the bench cutting the gap to Liverpool to four points.

Merino may come into the starting line-up with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all out injured. West Ham have lost five of their last seven games as Graham Potter’s side loo to bounce back from last week’s defeat against Brentford.

In a daring move, Arteta introduced Merino in place of Raheem Sterling in the 69th minute, and the midfielder delivered magnificently, netting twice to clinch a crucial 2-0 victory. "It was crazy for me to come on the pitch in that position," Merino said.

Arsenal celebrated their return to Premier League action with a 2-0 win away at Leicester. It is the perfect response from the Gunners following their desperately disappointing Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle as they have cut the gap to leaders Liverpool to four points.

Arsenal’s 15-game unbeaten Premier League run came to an end as West Ham United thwarted their attempt to reduce the gap to leaders Liverpool at the top of the table. Liverpool have dropped points in two of their past three matches and travel to Manchester City on Sunday, a ground at which they have not won in 10 years.

Mikel Arteta turned to midfielder Mikel Merino in the hope of solving Arsenal's forward crisis against Leicester and the Spaniard repaid his manager with two goals