Arsenal’s stand-in striker Mikel Merino has responded following the memorable 7-1 away Champions League win against PSV Eindhoven as the Gunners have one foot in the quarter-final of the competition.
With both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz injured, it leaves Arsenal without a recognised striker for the remainder of the season. With the team looking for a goal going into the closing stages of the recent Premier League clash against Leicester City, Mikel Arteta turned to midfielder Merino to play up front.
He scored twice in the final 10 minutes to give the Gunners a 2-0 win. Since then he has started the following three games as a striker.
There was some talk over if he could do the role with Arsenal drawing a blank against both West Ham United and Nottingham Forest. But Arteta kept faith with his fellow Spaniard and he started in the same position for the Champions League clash against PSV.
Merino repaid that faith. He scored just after the half-an-hour mark to add to first half goals from Jurrien Timber and Ethan Nwaneri, before providing an assist for Martin Odegaard’s second of the game to make it 6-1.
Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori were also on the scoresheet for Arsenal as they made history by recording the biggest ever away win in the Champions League knockout stages.