At what level does Mikel Merino come to be seen as a striker who typically performs in midfield, relatively than a midfielder who fills in up entrance? His match-winning show towards Brentford was simply the most recent instance of him taking part in the function as if a pure.
The 29-year-old has both scored or assisted in 5 out of six begins up entrance for Arsenal for the reason that Viktor Gyokeres damage that noticed him drafted again into the place. In opposition to Brentford, he did each, heading within the opener, then feeding Bukayo Saka for the second.
“He was immense once more at this time,” stated a beaming Mikel Arteta, earlier than lauding the instinctive centre-forward play that led to his opening purpose. “The way in which he scored the purpose, tremendous sensible. His timing, the way in which he wins the place and execution.”
His complete of 14 headed objectives for the reason that begin of final season is essentially the most by any Premier League participant in all competitions.
All this from a central midfielder who had, till Kai Havertz’s hamstring damage final season, by no means beforehand performed the function.
There may be studying on the job after which there may be this. Merino has mastered the place and has the numbers to show it.
For the reason that flip of the yr, he has scored a rare complete of 21 objectives for membership and nation, his transformation right into a goal-getting centre-forward benefitting the Spanish nationwide aspect in addition to Arsenal. Merino has emerged as a vital spearhead for either side.
Arsenal have Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus obtainable once more, with Kai Havertz not far behind them. However they are going to doubtless all wrestle to dislodge Merino, whose worth to the aspect will not be restricted to his objectives. “He makes the workforce significantly better,” as Arteta put it afterwards.
Since his transfer up entrance in the beginning of final month, Arsenal have scored 15 objectives in six video games, their common leaping from 2.1 per recreation to 2.5 throughout a run which has included their two finest attacking performances of the season, towards Spurs and Bayern Munich. Merino has both scored or arrange practically half of the full.
After all, he’s totally different to Gyokeres, for instance, in that he doesn’t play the function as a standard No 9.
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Arsenal and Brentford
When he’s not sniffing out possibilities within the field, he’s dropping into midfield, interchanging positions with team-mates, creating house to run into and usually complicated opposition defenders.
In his 4 Premier League begins up entrance this season, Merino has averaged half as many touches within the opposition field as Gyokeres per 90 minutes however practically twice as many general touches and passes, highlighting the extent to which he knits issues collectively.
Arteta was keen to spotlight the work he will get by way of out of possession too. Merino has shouldered a heavy workload currently, beginning eight consecutive video games in a month for membership and nation, however you wouldn’t have recognized it to observe him on Wednesday.
Mikel Merino’s contact and go maps spotlight his all-round affect
“I keep in mind an motion, he handed the ball to Martin [Odegaard] in behind and Martin does not chase it. Merino makes 40 metres to chase it to the nook flag,” stated Arteta.
“He goes again, wins the ball again. He’s in every single place. He is acquired that actually good momentum in the meanwhile.”
Merino made 4 tackles within the recreation. Premier League monitoring knowledge confirmed he ran greater than 12 kilometres, his complete placing him behind solely Odegaard. No participant made greater than his 368 intensive runs.
Mikel Merino celebrates after scoring the opening purpose of the sport
The tireless work-rate was commonplace. In addition to offering extra objectives and assists than every other Arsenal participant throughout the final 4 Premier League video games, Merino has made a complete of 10 tackles which places him second solely to left-back Riccardo Calafiori.
His all-round contribution, off the ball in addition to on it, units him aside and he has one other important attribute too.
“I stated it earlier in a press convention, it is his curiosity, it is his will to study and doubtless his will to assist the workforce,” added Arteta.
“He knew that we had a serious downside from the start of the season. We misplaced Victor, Kai was out and Gabriel Jesus was out. So we wanted an answer and he did it final yr actually, rather well.
Arsenal’s Mikel Merino celebrates after giving them the lead
“I feel this season he is in all probability taken it to a different step as a result of he is capable of do much more issues.
“I feel the workforce is admittedly grateful and he is having fun with it.”
Arteta feels his success within the function is a lesson for others. It has provided learnings to him too. Having frightened about having too many strikers in the summertime, Merino has saved the Arsenal boss from a scenario the place it appeared he did not have sufficient.
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Mikel Arteta stated he was happy and pleased with his gamers after the 2-0 win
“I took that lesson as a result of the entire summer time I used to be pondering, if we convey a 9, what is going on to occur with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz? I had numerous insanity as a result of I like them a lot as properly.
“What are we going to do? How are we going to deal with it? And to date we’ve not had an issue as a result of they have been injured.
“So, go away the current, go away the second and cope with the scenario when it comes. That is it.”
And that’s what Merino has achieved too. The stand-in striker may simply be Arsenal’s most suitable choice within the place now. Gyokeres, Jesus and Havertz have a battle on their fingers to get again into the workforce.
