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Mikel Merino shares when he found out from Mikel Arteta that he’d be playing up front for Arsenal
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has emerged as an unlikely hero in wake of his impressive start to life as the Gunners’ auxiliary centre-forward.
Kai Havertz’s season-ending hamstring injury meant Arsenal were without a recognised centre-forward for the Premier League game against Leicester.
In addition, Mikel Arteta only had three fit forwards in his ranks for𒅌 the match at the King Power Stadium – Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Ste🌺rling.
Arsenal failed to break down Leicester for much of the game, but Arteta’s decision to bring Merino in as a𒅌 centre-forward in the second half proved 🎃a masterstroke.
In the 80th minute, Merino rose highest in the box to meet Ethan Nwaneri’s cross, sendingꦺ the ball down and past Mads Hermansen.
Then𒉰, with three minutes left, Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard combined to set up Merino for a strike at the back post.
His performance stunned and delighted Aꩵrsenal fans, who likened Merino to Olivier Gir🧔oud.
Speaking after the game, Merino revealed exactly when ꦏhe found out from Mikel Arteta that he’d be playing up front against Leicester.
Mikel Merino found out he’d be playing as a striker on morning of Leicester v Arsenal game
Merino revealed that he only found out that he’d be lining up as a striker on the morning of the game🌃.
“Ar🎀teta told me I was going to come in as a striker,” he told TNT S🍷ports. “We were talking this morning about it with one of the assistants and honestly it was a surprise.
“It’s the first time in my career I’ve played in that position. But he told me to g🍎o as a striker, make sure I go with my strengths. Luckily, I could he🎀lp the team with two goals.”
When asked wh♎ether he’s now a striker, Merino replied: “I don’t know. I don’t think so to be honest!
“I’ve only scored two braces in m🅠y career, this is the first time Iꦜ’ve done it coming off the bench as a striker.
“It’s a good time to score as I didn’t spent ♔Valentine’s Day with my wife, this goes to her!”
How Merino fared up front for Arsenal
Merino’s 21-minute outing for Arsenal has to go down as one of the best out-🎃of-po♏sition cameos for a player in recent years.
| Merino stats v Leicester | |
| Minutes played | 21′ |
| Goals | 2 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 0.84 |
| Touches | 16 |
| Accurate passes | 6/9 (67%) |
| Shots on target | 2 |
| Ground duels (won) | 2 (0) |
| Aerial duels (won) | 3 (2) |
| Clearances | 1 |
Merino only had 16 touches of the ball, but two of those ended up in the back of the Leicester net, and it could well prove to be a tu🍨rning point in Arsenal’s season.
Not only does their win against the Foxes keep the pressure on Liverpo✱ol, but it also shows that Arsenal have a serious goalscoring threa💞t despite their depleted ranks.
