As Arsenal struggled against relegation-threatened Leicester City last month due to a series of injuries, manager Mikel Arteta turned to his substitutes in search of a spark. Mikel Merino answered the call.
For the first time in his professional career, Merino was positioned in an unconventional centre-forward role and impressively scored two quick goals to secure victory in the final moments of the match.
With key players like Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz sidelined, Arteta’s gamble paid off, showcasing a tactical adjustment that could prove pivotal in the title race.
Regrettably for Arsenal supporters, that moment of brilliance from Merino has not translated into sustained success, as it appears the Premier League title is likely heading to Merseyside unless Liverpool experiences an unexpected late-season collapse.
Nevertheless, the ongoing experiment with Merino in the centre-forward position has recently shown promise for the Gunners, suggesting it may be time to explore further positional changes.
Mikel Merino’s record at centre-forward
Due to the absence of Havertz and Jesus against Leicester City, along with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka also sidelined, Merino was considered a suitable option to play centrally after coming on for Leandro Trossard in the latter stages of the match.
The Spaniard rose to the occasion, displaying qualities reminiscent of Olivier Giroud, and secured three points for his team. He has since contributed an additional goal and an assist against PSV Eindhoven, as well as netting the decisive goal in the recent victory over Chelsea.
His latest contribution in the tightly contested match against Chelsea was a beautifully executed flicked header at the near post. Arteta commended Merino for his ability to “win matches” for the team, highlighting his “incredible” attitude.
According to Transfermarkt, the 28-year-old has now recorded four goals and one assist in just seven appearances in that central position, a tally that would satisfy any natural striker.
Indeed, any forward would be pleased to have scored in the manner Merino did against the west London side on Sunday, especially as the strikerless visitors may lament their limited options in the center following injuries to Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu.
| Arsenal vs Chelsea – striker comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stat | Merino | Pedro Neto |
| Minutes played | 90 | 90 |
| Touches | 22 | 35 |
| Goals | 1 | 0 |
| Assists | 0 | 0 |
| Key passes | 0 | 0 |
| Pass accuracy | 91% | 83% |
| Successful dribbles | 0/0 | 0/2 |
| Total duels won | 5/15 | 1/7 |
| Possession lost | 5x | 11x |
| Stats via Sofascore | ||
As Arteta pointed out, the former Newcastle United player demonstrated his “value” during that intense match, effectively leading the attack by winning five duels and achieving an impressive 91% pass accuracy, all while scoring despite having only 22 touches.
While the skillful left-footed player may not be the key figure to secure the title for Arsenal, he has certainly served as a competent temporary solution. It might be worthwhile for Arteta to explore a similar approach with Riccardo Calafiori.
Arteta could now repeat Arsenal’s Merino experiment
What is particularly noteworthy about Merino’s influence is that he has not received significant support from his teammates, with the exception of the match against PSV, where Leandro Trossard appeared to struggle against Enzo Maresca’s team.
The Belgian winger did not manage to deliver a single key pass or successfully execute a dribble throughout his 90 minutes on the pitch, contributing minimally to any offensive threat on the left side.
With only four goals and five assists in the league this season, Trossard’s performance has been underwhelming. Given that Martinelli is just returning from injury, it may be prudent to explore alternative options for the left-wing position.
One could suggest that after successfully utilizing Kieran Tierney in an attacking capacity recently, Arteta might consider a similar approach with Calafiori, especially since teenage talent Myles Lewis-Skelly appears to have secured the left-back position.
Calafiori has primarily played as a center-back or left-back thus far, but he has also previously been deployed as a left winger, a fact highlighted by Italian journalist Daniele Vierri upon the 22-year-old’s signing last summer.
“He can play on the left wing or the left side of the defence. He can also play as centre-back, where he has improved a lot over the last season at Bologna.
“He is physically strong, but he is not a typical Italian defender like a [Giorgio] Chiellini, so a very man-marking defender. He is technically very gifted and is a player who can build up the play from the back.”
Described vividly by Sam Dean of the Telegraph as “like a wild horse on the loose,” the Italy international has already demonstrated his potential threat in the attacking third, notably scoring during the 7-1 victory against PSV while positioned forward.
The former Bologna player’s possibly underutilized offensive capabilities were also evident in his precise strikes against both Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this season, highlighting the value he could bring as a more consistent member of the attacking lineup.
Similar to the situation with Merino, this adventurous new position should not be viewed as a long-term solution—especially with Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams reportedly being a target for the upcoming summer transfer window. However, if Arteta seeks a temporary option, experimenting with Calafiori in a more advanced role could prove beneficial.
Let that ‘wild horse’ run free…
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