Former Leicester City striker Gary Lineker has identified one Arsenal player whom he says is a special talent for Mikel Arteta
Arsenal left it late but ultimately secured a crucial 4-2 win over Leicester City at the Emirates, capitalising on Manchester City’s draw with Newcastle United earlier in the day. The victory allows the Gunners to close the gap on their title rivals, adding two valuable points in the race for the Premier League crown.
Mikel Arteta’s side, aiming for perfection after narrowly missing out on the title last season, knew that dropping points against Leicester—who are likely to be battling relegation—was not an option. Despite dominating possession, Arsenal struggled to break down Leicester’s defence and looked set for a frustrating afternoon.
As the game edged towards its final stages, Arteta turned to his bench for inspiration. Raheem Sterling was the first to be introduced, followed by young talent Ethan Nwaneri and then Gabriel Jesus. In a surprising move, Nwaneri was brought on 13 minutes before the more experienced Jesus, raising eyebrows but ultimately proving a masterstroke by Arteta.
Ethan Nwaneri’s performance was nothing short of impressive. The 17-year-old immediately made an impact, nearly scoring upon entering the game and showcasing the potential to fill in for captain Martin Odegaard, who remains sidelined. Nwaneri’s cameo drew high praise from football pundit and former Leicester City striker Gary Lineker.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Lineker labelled Nwaneri as a “special” talent. “We saw a lovely cameo too, didn’t we, from Nwaneri? He looks really gifted. He looks special,” Lineker said, acknowledging the teenager’s contribution despite his personal allegiance to Leicester City.
In addition to Nwaneri’s breakout performance, Gabriel Martinelli’s return to top form was a significant positive for Arteta’s side. With Odegaard absent, Martinelli stepped up, providing much-needed creativity and attacking threat. His dynamism, combined with Nwaneri’s flair, offered hope for the Gunners despite their captain’s absence.
The victory sets up Arsenal for a challenging Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. Arteta will be hoping that the energy and resilience shown by his team against Leicester will carry them through another tough test, as they aim to make a mark in Europe’s premier competition
