Arsenal player ratings: Ethan Nwaneri, 17, excels amid injury crisis but Raheem Sterling a shadow of old self

Mikel Merino was the hero of Arsenal of the bank when he resolved the rush crisis with two goals in Leicester.

With Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz both wanted to miss the rest of the season, Mikel Arteta Leandro Trossard started in the front.

But the Gunners struggled to find the breakthrough against a resilient Foxes defense.

That was until Merino came up and the game changed.

At 81 minutes he went in the opener's delicate cross of Ethan Nwaneri, and made the score at 2-0 with a tidy rear finish six minutes later.

Here is how Sunssport's Charlie Wyett rated the Arsenal players …

David Raya: 6

Got his body behind an early Wilfred NDIDI effort, but very little else to do to store Bobby de Cordova-Reid's rising shot in the 67th minute.

Jurrien Timber: 6

Was caught a few times, but he tried to get forward to help Nwaneri.

William Saliba: 6

Had a fight with Jamie Vardy and made sure that Leicester's talisman was kept quite quiet.

Gabriel: 6

Strong in the air and generally handling well, although Leicester was bad in terms of quality when she improved.

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Myles Lewis-Skelly: 7

Great intervention to stop the Cordova REID with another 17 minutes to bend the cross of Jordan Ayew for a corner. That was quality dealing then under real pressure.

Thomas Partey: 6

Sitting deep and mopped the rare moments of the pressure of Leicester, but did the belly and that is why he was replaced.

Martin Odegaard: 7

Showed quality in the last third part, but it is capable of much more. Two great passes in the first half to Trossard, but he wasted them.

Declan Rice: 6

Improved after the break, but did not really succeed in stamping his authority. You would have thought that this game would have been perfect for the midfielder of England.

Ethan Nwaneri: 8

Set the first goal and the best player of Arsenal together with Sub Merino.

He had Arsenal's best chances on the second half, but he shot a shot wide and then inserted an attempt against the post. His cross for Merino was perfect.

Leandro Trossard: 5

If he is the response from Arsenal to their problems in advance, they have major problems.

Played like a false nine until the arrival of Merino and did not look forward to it. Had two first half chances in good positions, but did not succeed in making the best of it, but he set the second goal.

Raheem Sterling: 4

Terrible achievements. Doesn't look like the player of a few years ago and it was not surprising that he was the first player of Arsenal who was immersed.

Had bent off a shot, but caused very few problems on the left.

Subs

Mikel Merino: 8 (for Sterling 69 minutes) – had never played at the front before, but the SOS call from Arteta explicitly answered with two late goals.

Jorginho: 6 (for Partey 75 minutes) – brought to keep more midfield control as Pedey began to mark.

Riccardo Calafiori: 7 (for Myles -Skelly 76 minutes) – played a key role in the second goal with driving through the middle.

Kieran Tierney: 6 (for Trossard 89 minutes) – Scot played on wing for closure minutes.

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