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Mikel Arteta shares what Mikel Merino is really like behind the scenes at Arsenal as midfielder continues to shine up front

Giuseppe Labellarte

Sat 5 April 2025 6:15, UK

Arsenal have had a lot of injuries to deal with this season, with Mikel Arteta unable to select his strongest starting XI for most of the campaign.

With the business end of the season now in full swing, Arsenal remain without numerous key players.

Gabriel Jesus, K♌ai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain on the sideline♏s, while Ben White and Jurrien Timber are doubts.

On a brighter note, Arsenal’s injury crisis up front has eased, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli🌳 available once again.

Mikel Merino became an unlikely hero for Arsenal during their crisis up 🐈front as he took on the role of striker to great effect.

Indeed, Arteta was jokingly asked by reporters on 🍸Friday how he would convince Merino to slot back into midfield once he’s no longer needed up front.

READ MORE: What Viktor Gyoker🧸es camp is now ready to d෴o that will be music to Arsenal’s ears

Mikel Arteta says Mikel Merino is a ‘real joy to work with’ at Arsenal

Arteta said he’s 🍒“already done that”, noting how Merino played at No. 8 after L💜eandro Trossard came on last time out.

The Arsenal manager went on to share how the £32million man is like behind the scenes, saying he’s a real “joy to work with” and hailing his character, quality and versa👍tili🍰ty.

“I already di🔥d that (convince him to return to midfield) because I played him as an eight the other day when we brought Leo in, so we discussed that,” Arteta told the Arsenal .

“He’s a joy to work with and that’s one﷽ of the reasons why we wanted to bring him to the c🌱lub because he’s so versatile.

“He’s very intelligent and he loves the game and he loves to understand the game and the reaไson🐷 why we have certain players to do what we want them to do.

“Mikel understood immediately, explaining his qualities, what the team needs in that moment and how he can benefit from being in those positions and demanding that the role he can do as 🏅a number nine with his qualities, not comparing to anybody else and judge his performances on that basis.

“And since then, I think he’s been really good.”

How Mikel Merino compares to Arsenal teammates and Premier League forwards

Since 15 February, the first game in whi🍷ch Merino played up front, the Spaniard has registered five goals from eight appearances.

Now, Merino boasts a better minutes-per-goal ratio than any of his Arsenal teammates who have been playiဣ꧒ng in attack.

Indeed, Merino’s tally puts him o🍌n par with the likes of Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah in terms of Premier League players’ goal tallies in all competitions since mid-February.

Merino has stepped up in a time of real crisis for Arsenal and is delivering the 🀅kind of goal tally that’d be deemed great from an established Premier League striker.