In times of difficulty, teams look at their leaders for inspiration. Mikel Arteta has been guilty of losing his cool in the past, but while the season of Arsenal is going into his decisive phase, the chief steps at the point.
Football in 2025 offers little room for improvisation. Hordes of data analysts plans for competitions in bewildering details. Five substitutions mean that if a Premier League coach is wrong with his starting XI, he can change half of his outfield players. The richest clubs can pay squadrons with excellent players, which treats every basis.
But sometimes even these safety nets fail and that is when managers prove their value. The smartest do not panic if they are four attackers and struggle to outsmart one of the weakest defenses in the division. They respond with an innovative step to win the game.
Mikel Merino had never played as a center-forward in his career, but Arteta had seen enough of his fellow Basque to think it was worth it. Half an hour later Merino had scored twice, Leicester was beaten and the Gunners were still in the title race.
This was also not a lucky movement. Study the first goal of Merino, a header from the cross of Ethan Nwaneri. It looks simple enough, but none of the three of none of Arsenal start – Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling – would have been able to score it. It was a finish where no 9 that was worth their salt would have been proud of.
While he tries to fight on two fronts, Arteta now has an offensive weapon and deserves every honor.
He could have cursed his luck at the seasonal hamstring injury of Kai Havertz, which means that the German joins Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli on the sidelines.
He could have sulked in the transfer bosses of Arsenal because they had not delivered a center-forward during the winter transfer window, although Ollie Watkins wanted to participate in Aston Villa, or blamed his perilous situation for the wild luminaire schedule.
Instead, Arteta found a way and who knows how important this instinctive step could prove to be as Arsenal tries to put an end to a waiting time of 21 years on the title.
“You must have a photo in your head of what can work and what the variables are within the team,” Arteta explains.
'And then you must feel it, have seen what happened and understand what the game is demanding. We have prepared for different scenarios and then these scenarios have to work – such as with Leicester. '
Arsenal concludes February with a home game against West Ham on Saturday before they travel to Nottingham Forest four days later and with his air power, Merino looks an ideal starter on the city, against an impressive forest defense that prefers to be deep. Expect that Nwaneri will also have an impact in both games.
Former English midfielder Joe Cole, who worked as a television expert, even compared Nwaneri with Lionel Messi. Although it is ridiculous at this stage to draw such parallels with one of the greatest of all time, the 17-year-old is an exciting talent.
He has a wonderful balance and is comfortable with both feet, making it very difficult to mark. He is brave on the ball and always seems to make the right choice. Time to get Nwaneri in the entire English team next month – Barcelona and Spain Star Lamine Yamal is four months younger than Nwaneri and is already one of the best attackers in the world.
Leicester -Baas Ruud van Nistelrooy may think about following Arteta's lead. Since the 2-2 draw has not scored in a league match on December 8 in a league match on December 8 and continues to trust Jamie Vardy, who became 38 for goals in January.
A relegation struggle may not be the ideal scenario for young people to find their way in the first team, but in Jeremy Monga, 15 and 16-year-old Jake Evans, Leicester have two of the most promising in the country. The couple regularly trained this period with the first team and were included in the team for the FA Cup defeat in Manchester United earlier this month.
Leicester should try something. Despite losing nine of their last 10 games, the men of Van Nistelrooy still have a chance to survive, thanks to the terrible standard of the lower four. With Southampton virtually relegated, two of the foxes, Wolves and Ipswich will join them.
If wolves survive, it is the second consecutive season that all three of the promoted teams suffer immediately. If England's top flight becomes a closed store, that is not good for the spectacle, no matter how compelling the action on the other side of the table too. And given the pace that Liverpool sets, Arteta may need a few ingenuity to keep it interesting on the top.
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