Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi showed flashes of his best form, but it was little consolation for Leicester City as they fell to a home defeat against Arsenal, Soccernet.ng reports.
Ndidi made his first Premier League start since returning from injury, but Leicester stumbled to a 2-0 loss at the King Power Stadium.
Substitute Mikel Merino struck twice in the final ten minutes to secure a vital win for Arsenal, bringing Mikel Arteta’s side within four points of leaders Liverpool.
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Before the late collapse, Leicester had held firm, keeping Arsenal’s depleted attack at bay.
– Photo by Icon Sport
Ndidi delivered an energetic display in midfield, contributing both defensively and offensively. The Super Eagles star even had Leicester’s best chance of the match, but he glanced a free header wide on the stroke of halftime.
READ MORE: Wilfred Ndidi outshines Mac Allister, Casemiro in key Premier League stat despite injury woes
Caleb Okoli, who has been called up to the Italian national team but remains eligible for Nigeria, also put in a solid shift at the heart of the Foxes’ defence.
Despite missing Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Kai Havertz, Arsenal found their breakthrough late on.
Super Eagles-eligible youngster Ethan Nwaneri was the visitors’ standout performer, twice hitting the crossbar and driving Arsenal’s attacking play.
However, it was Spanish midfielder Merino, deployed as a makeshift centre-forward, who broke Leicester’s resistance.
He nodded Arsenal into the lead in the 80th minute from a pinpoint Nwaneri cross before stabbing home Leandro Trossard’s low delivery to seal the victory.
