Arsenal found their striker for 20 minutes away to Leicester City but the question moving forward is whether or not Mikel Merino can fill the role until the end of the season. Without much of a goalscoring record behind him, it would certainly be a risk.
The argument is that Merino, by sheer physical presence, is the closest player to Kai Havertz in the Arsenal squad, so should continue to take up the centre-forward spot. He was signed to play as a left-sided midfielder like Havertz, after all.
Merino is the latest in a group to try and replace the blend of strength and output that Granit Xhaka brought in 2022/23. Havertz and Declan Rice have both been tried but have found new and different roles instead.
As a natural box-to-box midfielder, Merino fits the bill on paper. He has had a slow start to life in England, though. It has not been helped by injury and a general tightness to the team’s play all season.
On Saturday, Merino answered the call when Arteta needed it most. Struggling to break down a stubborn Leicester defence – and threatened by the odd counter going the other way – Arsenal were desperate for a moment from somewhere.
Up popped Merino to score just his third and fourth goals of the Premier League season. Both came in the form of a Havertz-type strike as well.
