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FootballPremier League

The Premier League returns this week after the conclusion of the FA Cup fourth round, and talkSPORT has all the latest.

Chelsea kicked-off the action by being on the receiving end of a Valentine's Day massacre following a 3-0 thrashing at Brighton - their second defeat at the Amex in six days.

Arsenal moved four points behind Liverpool with a 2-0 win over Leicester as Mikel Merino came off the bench to score twice.

Keep up to date with all of the latest Premier League odds at talkSPORT BET

Premier League gameweek 25 fixtures

Friday, February 14

Brighton 3-0 Chelsea

Saturday, February 15

Leicester 0-2 ArsenalAston Villa 0-0 pswichFulham 1-0 Nottingham ForestManchester City 3-0 NewcastleSouthampton 0-2 BournemouthWest Ham 0-1 Brentford17:30: Crystal Palace vs Everton

Sunday, February 16

14:00: Liverpool vs Wolves16:30: Tottenham vs Manchester United

just nowBy Jack Cunningham

At Villa Park, we have a serious injury as Julio Enciso has left the field in tears.

The Paraguayan international joined Ipswich on loan in January from Brighton after coming back from a serious knee injury.

And judging by his reaction, this is also something very bad.

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5 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

HE'S AT IT AGAIN!

Ilkay Gundogan carries the ball up the pitch and plays a lovely pass in behind for Omar Marmoush.

In the box, he manages to find space and pulls a clever finish into the near-post corner.

Martin Dubravka might feel he should have saved it, but it was an excellent finish.

Credit: GettyCopied

11 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

AS EASY AS THAT!

Man City have the lead, and it's Omar Marmoush with the goal.

Ederson takes his time and pings a long ball into the Newcastle half.

Kieran Trippier totally misreads it, and the pass reaches Marmoush, who calmly lifts the ball over Martin Dubravka.

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16 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

WHAT A CROSS!

Emile Smith Rowe has put Fulham into the lead over Nottingham Forest, but this is all about the cross.

Adama Traore comes in from the right onto his unfavoured left.

But he delivers a stunning ball in that is begging to be put away, and Smith Rowe happily obliges.

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24 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

WE HAVE AN OPENER!

Yoane Wissa finds space on the right, and he lifts a ball into Bryan Mbeumo.

He heads the ball on for Kevin Schade.

The German fires in a shot that is saved, but it comes back to him, and he rifles it in.

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31 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Right, we are underway in all of the Premier League 3pm games.

We'll be right across them throughout this afternoon.

Aston Villa 0-0 pswichFulham 0-0 Nottingham ForestManchester City 0-0 NewcastleSouthampton 0-0 BournemouthWest Ham 0-0 BrentfordCopied

49 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has never played as a striker before today, but he came off the bench to bag twice and seal an incredibly important three points.

Ethan Nwaneri also played brilliantly and grabbed an assist, while he hit the crossbar twice.

However, Dean Ashton thinks that Merino was Man of the Match.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: "It has to be Mikel Merino.

"But ultimately the game will be remembered for Merino and those two quality finishes.

Arsenal might just have found that answer to Kai Havertz's injury."

It was very much like when managers started playing Marouane Fellaini up front, and it's something we could see a lot more of.

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Today, 14:27By Jack Cunningham

That's the end of the game, and Arsenal have cut the gap at the top of the table to four points.

Mikel Merino was the hero for the Gunners as he came off the bench to score twice late on after Mikel Arteta's men had been largely frustrated.

The Spaniard came on as a false nine and grabbed two goals for the visitors.

So, the Premier League title race is alive and well.

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Today, 14:19By Jack Cunningham

87' - HE'S DONE IT AGAIN!

Martin Odegaard breaks from the edge of his box and Riccardo Calafiori finds Leandro Trossard.

The Belgian takes a touch and whips a cross into the far post.

It's an excellent ball, and there is Merino to convert on the half-volley.

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Today, 14:14By Jack Cunningham

80' - MASSIVE, MASSIVE GOAL!

Mikel Arteta's substitute comes up with a huge goal in the closing stages.

Leicester can't clear their lines and Jurrien Timber finds Ethan Nwaneri.

The teenager teases a gorgeous ball to the far post, and Merino peels off his man.

He then directs a header into the bottom corner, and the away end goes wild.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Dean Ashton said: "If you can get the ball wide and get a good ball into the box for a big man, there is always a goal to be had.

"Nwaneri has been excellent, and it is a terrific header from him."

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Today, 14:08By Jack Cunningham

76' - Wow, what a strike!

Ethan Nwaneri hits the woodwork for the second time in this half as Declan Rice plays him.

He takes a touch on his right and smashes an effort towards goal.

Mads Hermansen just about manages to push it onto the near post, and the ball deflects out for a corner that comes to nothing.

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Today, 14:06By Jack Cunningham

72' - Absolutely crucial intervention from Myles Lewis-Skelly!

Thomas Partey gifts possession to Jordan Ayew on the left, and the winger drives down the left.

The cross into the far post is magnificent and looks perfect for Bobby Decordova-Reid.

But the young left-back does well to touch it behind for a corner that comes to nothing.

However, Dean Ashton thinks the Arsenal man got a bit lucky.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: "He's lucky because he stumbles."

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Today, 14:01By Jack Cunningham

68' - Raheem Sterling's rare Premier League start is over as Mikel Merino is introduced.

The Spaniard moves into the number nine role, and Leandro Trossard comes out to the left.

It would be fair to say that Sterling didn't do a lot in this match.

He looks totally devoid of confidence.

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Today, 13:58By Jack Cunningham

66' - Great play from Jordan Ayew to win the ball back in a block tackle.

It drops for Bobby Decordova-Reid, and the Leicester man has a strike.

It's a decent effort, but David Raya sees it all the way and gathers for the visitors.

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Today, 13:52By Jack Cunningham

60' - Oohhhhhhhhhhh, so close!

Declan Rice wins the ball in the centre circle and feeds Martin Odegaard.

He picks out Ethan Nwaneri, who drifts inside from the right.

The youngster lines up a shot on the edge of the box and rattles a strike at goal that clips the top of the bar.

That was some shot from Nwaneri!

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Today, 13:50By Jack Cunningham

56' - The second half still hasn't really sparked into life, but the Gunners are starting to get more and more corners.

The latest ones are excellently defended by Caleb Okoli.

He clears the first one over his own bar before he thunders the next one away at the near post.

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Today, 13:42By Jack Cunningham

48' - Good run from Declan Rice through the middle of the Leicester defence opens up some space.

He reverses a pass into Raheem Sterling, but the ball doesn't have enough on it.

Wilfred Ndidi nips in and makes a clean tackle.

The Gunners come again, but Woyo Couilbaly stops Sterling on the edge of the area with a well-timed challenged.

Dean Ashton is worried about Sterling's display so far.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: "Sterling looks visibly slower because of the lack of confidence."

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Today, 13:37By Jack Cunningham

Back underway for the second 45 minutes, and there are no changes for either side.

And immediately, there is a booking for Bilal El Khannous for a late tackle on Thomas Partey.

The referee brandishes a yellow card, and we carry on.

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Today, 13:31By Jack Cunningham

Arsenal have been flat, lethargic and slow on the ball, but there has been one bright spark in Ethan Nwaneri.

The teenager has been very lively on the right.

Certainly, these statistics show that if the Gunners are to get a breakthrough, he will be involved.

Nwaneri has completed four dribbles in the first half against Leicester City, already his most in a single Premier League match and just one fewer than he managed in his previous six league matches combined (5 dribbles).

Plus, all six crosses for Arsenal have come down the right from Nwaneri.

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Today, 13:23By Jack Cunningham

That brings an end to the first 45 minutes, and it's all square.

Arsenal have had most of the ball, but just one shot on target, while Ethan Nwaneri has looked lively.

But it is actually this hosts who have had the best opportunities.

Wilfred Ndidi's volley was well-saved by David Raya before he then headed wide at the end of the half.

We can only hope it improves massively after the break.

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Today, 13:21By Jack Cunningham

45+' - Huge chance for Wilfred Ndidi!

Leicester should have the lead at the end of the first 45 minutes, but it isn't to be.

The Foxes left-back Victor Kristiansen finds space and delivers a stunning ball into the box.

Ndidi finds space and flashes a header wide of the far post.

From about ten yards, he should probably have scored.

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Today, 13:17By Jack Cunningham

45' - More good play from Ethan Nwaneri down the right as he bursts past his man and drives to the byline.

He drills the ball in at the near post that Wout Faes clears.

From the corner, Gabriel Magalhaes makes the first contact, but Wilfred Ndidi clears.

However, Dean Ashton is enjoying Nwaneri's display.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: "He's the difference at the moment.

He is pretty rapid over the first five or ten yards."

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Today, 13:13By Jack Cunningham

41' - James Justin has given it his all, but he can't carry on anymore.

The right-back hits the ground and indicates his race is done.

We are going to see Woyo Couilbaly in place of Justin.

This is a big chance for the new man.

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Today, 13:07By Jack Cunningham

35' - Boubakary Soumare loses the ball in the middle of the pitch and Raheem Sterling collects.

The winger drives to the edge of the box and rifles in a shot that deflects behind for the Gunners' first corner of the game.

Ethan Nwaneri delivers, but the Foxes deal with the first and second ball.

Ruud van Nistelrooy will be very happy with how things are going so far, Mikel Arteta probably less so.

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Today, 13:04By Jack Cunningham

32' - That is a bit better from Arsenal as Declan Rice finds Ethan Nwaneri.

He works it into Myles Lewis-Skelly, who plays it to Gabriel Magalhaes.

The Brazilian picks out Raheem Sterling in the box with a sublime pass, but the winger loses his footing, and James Justin cleans up.

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