Sponsored by. MIKEL MERINO dedicated his late Arsenal double to his wife Lola... after forgetting to buy her a Valentine's Day present. The Spaniard, 28, rose from the bench to net both of the Gunners' goals in their 2-0 win at Leicester. After the game, Merino made a cheeky admission while speaking to TNT Sports. He told reporter Becky Ives: "It’s the first time in my career that I’ve played as a striker. The manager told me to use my strengths and I think I did that.".
![[Mikel Merino of Arsenal celebrating a goal.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/mikel-merino-arsenal-celebrates-scoring-972236857.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
On if he expects to play up top more, he added: "I don’t think so, to be honest. "But it’s a good day to score because I forgot to give my wife a Valentine’s Day present, so I think she’ll appreciate this more than a rose or some chocolates.". Seeing Merino's interview, one fan joked: "Brother, you are in the doghouse.". While a second joked: "How romantic.". A third quipped: "Merino is so locked in he forgot to get his wife a valentine's.".
![[Woman in red bikini in shallow ocean water.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/58a87537-7052-428c-9862-035b89091b34.jpg?strip=all&w=846)
Despite the makeshift forward's double, Ethan Nwaneri was awarded TNT Sports' player of the match award. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS. On the 17-year-old, Merino added: "He’s an amazing player. "Every time I do an interview, you guys ask me for him!. "That’s natural because he is such a talent. "He has such a wonderful left foot and he put the ball right on my head so that all I could do was score.".
![[Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal dribbling the ball during a soccer match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ethan-nwaneri-arsenal-runs-ball-972241310.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
