‘We Were In The Game’ - Van Nistelrooy On Arsenal Reverse

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‘We Were In The Game’ - Van Nistelrooy On Arsenal Reverse

Ruud van Nistelrooy felt luck did not fall our way in the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, after a spirited performance against the title-chasers.

2025-02-16T12:00+00:00

by Sam Jones

Published

16 Feb, 2025

‘We Were In The Game’ - Van Nistelrooy On Arsenal Reverse

Ruud van Nistelrooy felt luck did not fall our way in the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, after a spirited performance against the title-chasers.

Sam Jones

2025-02-16T12:00+00:00

‘We Were In The Game’ - Van Nistelrooy On Arsenal Reverse

Ruud van Nistelrooy felt luck did not fall our way in the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, after a spirited performance against the title-chasers.

Sam Jones

2025-02-16T12:00+00:00

‘We Were In The Game’ - Van Nistelrooy On Arsenal Reverse

Ruud van Nistelrooy felt luck did not fall our way in the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, after a spirited performance against the title-chasers.

Sam Jones

2025-02-16T12:00+00:00

‘We Were In The Game’ - Van Nistelrooy On Arsenal Reverse

Ruud van Nistelrooy felt luck did not fall our way in the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, after a spirited performance against the title-chasers.

Sam Jones

2025-02-16T12:00+00:00

Leicester City lost out 2-0 to Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday
Mikel Merino came off the bench to score twice late on and win the game - Ruud van Nistelrooy reflected on another home defeat for the Foxes
Many elements of the performance were encouraging, he said post-match

The Gunners headed to King Power Stadium as favourites to continue their 14-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League, and although the end result eventually went in their favour, it was an evenly balanced contest, despite the disparity in league positioning between the sides.

Mikel Merino came off the bench to strike twice late on, in the 81st and 87th minute, sending Mikel Arteta’s men home with all three points, with City having missed chances to take the lead earlier on.

“It was very spirited,” the Manager told us following full-time on Saturday. “I felt we were in the game for a long time and it was another late goal conceded but it could have gone either way.

“Arsenal were obviously a touch better in terms of possession and created more than us, but we had our moments in the first half, twice with Wilfred [Ndidi], who was close with a header and a volley.

“Then the second half was the ball across from Jordan Ayew to Bobby [De Cordova-Reid] and it was just touched by the foot of [Myles] Lewis-Skelly. If not, it’s a tap in and you go 1-0 up late on. And then the place is lifted and you get that positive momentum.

“Other than that, we were solid. We defended well; we handled the crosses well. Only on the Merino one we weren’t quite there and then if you don’t score, you can concede and you can lose the game. We could have done better for the first goal and defending Merino.

“We kept going after that, we went full for the equaliser and on the break they got the second.”

A frustrating afternoon in the end, van Nistelrooy is taking the positives away from going toe-to-toe with one of the best sides in the division, providing optimism and something to build on.

“We have to be tough and strong,” the 48-year-old continued. “We know that we are in the position we are and we have to deal with disappointment and keep going with this performance on an everyday basis as well, to invest in ourselves on the training pitch and believe that we can compete with the best, like we showed today.

“Of course, the substitutions and the world-class players they can bring on make a difference. Merino decides the game for them. We know who we have to compete with in the Premier League. It’s fine margins and that’s a big compliment to the team.

“The performance and the commitment and getting the maximum out of our possibilities - this is all I can ask of the players and they have done that. Then you need a bit of luck to score the first one and the place is lifted and you can defend the result as well.

“You have some margin to concede. We’re also looking for clean sheets, to concede less and it’s all there. It’s a bit of luck to start getting results and I believe we will.”

Right-back James Justin was forced off with a knock just before the break and although the extent of his injury is not yet known, replacement Woyo Coulibaly impressed on his home debut.

“There’s no news yet,” the Dutchman revealed on Justin. “Of course, he had to come off. If not, I would have kept him on until half-time, but I think Woyo Coulibaly had an excellent game when he came on. Hopefully James Justin’s foot is okay and it isn’t much.”

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