Merino’s late brace sends Arsenal past Leicester, closing in on Liverpool

A late double from Mikel Merino lifted Arsenal to a crucial 2-0 victory over Leicester City, narrowing the gap at the top of the Premier League.

After a quiet first half, the match seemed to be slipping away from the injury-depleted Gunners, as Ethan Nwaneri struck the woodwork twice in the second half.

However, Mikel Arteta’s tactical switch, deploying natural midfielder Merino as a makeshift striker, proved decisive. Merino’s two clinical goals secured all three points for Arsenal at the King Power Stadium.

According to The Independent, Arsenal’s win moves them within four points of league leaders Liverpool, following a late equalizer by Everton that denied the Reds a victory in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday.

Ipswich Town hold Aston Villa to a 1-1 draw despite playing with 10 Men

In an other match, Ipswich Town delivered a battling performance to hold Aston Villa to a Premier League draw at Villa Park, despite playing nearly an hour with 10 men.

The first half was largely uneventful until Ipswich’s Axel Tuanzebe brought down Jacob Ramsey on the edge of the penalty area, earning a second yellow card.

According to the BBC, up until that point, Ipswich had defended resolutely, and despite heavy Villa pressure early in the second half, they stunned the home crowd when Liam Delap beat Axel Disasi to Omari Hutchinson’s low cross and slotted the ball into the far corner.

Amid mounting frustration from the Villa supporters, Ollie Watkins equalised from close range after Marcus Rashford’s free-kick rattled the crossbar.

Marco Asensio, also a January arrival, missed a chance from a promising position before forcing Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer into a remarkable one-handed save as Villa pushed for a winner.

Palmer produced another stunning stop deep into added time when a Rashford cross was deflected towards goal by Conor Townsend, but Ipswich held on to claim a hard-earned point.

The result lifts Ipswich above Leicester on goal difference, while Villa move up to ninth.

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