Advertisement At a time when manager Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff are searching for new solutions to find goals, could a counter-attacking identity help navigate these final three striker-less months?

Leandro Trossard, who started as a false nine, often dropped deep to receive the ball and Rice was charged with bombing on and filling the space left by the Belgian. Without the tall figure of Kai Havertz, Arsenal needed a presence in the box and Rice offered that, going close with a first-half header after arriving late.

Arsenal have been encouraged in their long-term pursuit for one of Mikel Arteta’s top transfer targets whom he failed to sign last summer.

Moments before Merino was thrown on for the final 20 minutes at the King Power Stadium, he was collared by Arteta for some final instructions. It turned out to be a masterstroke. Merino’s two goals in the final 10 minutes secured a 2-0 win and, crucially, meant Arsenal kept pace with Liverpool in the title race.

Arsenal will be hoping to make it four Premier League wins in a row when they face West Ham United this weekend. The Hammers make the short trip across the capital on Saturday afternoon, with Mikel Arteta's men now unbeaten in their last 15 league games.