Arsenal’s makeshift striker Mikel Merino had a very poor game against Aston Villa today, perhaps showing that Mikel Arteta needs to end this experiment.
The Spain international has filled in pretty well as an emergency centre-forward, scoring in recent games against Chelsea and Brentford, but in general it surely can’t be considered a long-term option.
Against Villa today we saw Merino thoroughly shackled, with the 29-year-old barely able to make any kind of impact on the game.
See below for some of Merino’s stats at Villa Park, with the former Real Sociedad man failing to have any shots or make any key passes…
| Mikel Merino vs Aston Villa | 46 minutes played |
| Shots | 0 |
| Total passes | 11 |
| Accurate passes | 7 |
| Key passes | 0 |
| Dribbles attempted | 1 |
| Dribble success | 0% |
It seems Arteta realised he had to change things as he replaced Merino with Viktor Gyokeres in the 46th minute.
The problem there, however, is that the Sweden international just hasn’t done enough since joining to convince Arteta he shouldn’t be experimenting with a midfielder up front instead.
Do Arsenal need to change things up front this January?
Arsenal spent a lot on new attacking players this summer, with Gyokeres joining for £64m, Noni Madueke for £48.5m, and Eberechi Eze for £60m.
Still, none have been consistent enough, and that’s been a problem for the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli as well.
Leandro Trossard has been Arsenal’s most reliable attacker, contributing six goals and five assists in 17 games so far, including his equaliser against Villa today.
Overall, it’s not the most threatening front line, and one that could do either with some further additions, or at the very least the speedy return of the likes of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus to full fitness and form.
Continuing with Merino up front, however, is surely not an option, and for now Arteta probably needs to show more trust in Gyokeres and work out how to get the best out of a striker who was scoring for fun in Portugal.
Surprising substitution, especially that Merino has been doing fine in Gyokeres’ absence.
Another point to add to the lessons to learn from today’s game.
Odegaard shouldve stayed injured or on the bench but like an idiot the father started he’s son again knowing and forgetting that eversince he returned arsenal started dipping and dropping points. The little potency, fluidity, intensity along with the consistency that appeared from he’s last involvement all gone and out the door.
Man literally walked in the team, not work he’s way back, captain my ass, Saka was quite fine with that band along with other natural leaders that being said Declan rice or someone like Gabriel who’s real leaders, fighters(brawler), consistent and uplifts the team even on their worst days which occurs very seldomly should be the captain. Atleast any top tier manager/coach would’ve made that decision a long time ago given what he’s working with
Give him a break. He was playing very more like his old and gets a comes back does well and has been off for a while. Arteta just needs to ease him back. Eze is good but doesn’t influence play like Odergaard
What a load of nonsense.
Gyokeres is a joke. He is clueless.
Merino is much better player playing out of position. stop spreading this idiotic narrative that Merino is to blame here
Arteta is the one killing the potentials of the players ,Gyokores was scoring goals ,Eze was doing well with crystals palace suddenly they are not good enough,,,give Emery this squad he will do better,,Arteta has done well but he can win the league for Arsenal….I will start blaming Gyokores if Arsenal as team start playing to his strength and he starts missing those chances,,Arsenal as a team don’t create a lot chances let alone for the striker in question
merino is a very good player no doubt about that. Thing is Gyokeres just coming back from injury & you don’t want to push it. Merino has played alot alot of games continually. Could have been fatigue that warranted this performance. No issues either wsy. Gyokeres gets game time & back into it. Merino takes a breather. Jesus & Havertz to come. COYGs