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What Mikel Merino said about playing as striker for Arsenal in November after scoring two goals against Leicester City
Mikel Merino discussed the possibility of playing striker for Arsenal back in November and against Leicester City, his claim came true.
Merino scored a brace against Leicester as the Spaniard came off the🔯 bench to help keep the Gunners’ Premier League title hopes al𒅌ive.
Mikel Arteta needed to find an alternative option to lead the line for his team with both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz set for extended🌳 peꦰriods on the sidelines.
Merino has been lauded by his teammates following his display playin💫g u top and his prediction about filling that role has re-emerged.
Mikel Merino said he wanted to play striker in November
Back in November, Mikel Merino said if he could swap positions he would most wan🅘t to play as a striker to experience the feeling of scoring.
That desire came true against the Foxes as he netted twice with two well-taken finishes and p𒁃roved he could be a ꩲserious option for Arteta.
Raheem Sterling made way for the Spaniard after 69 minutes and just when the visito🐓rs looked set to drop two points, Merino popped up with a brace.
Speaking back in November, Merino told Arsenal’s social media team: “I would love to be a striker just to try to ✃score and see what the feeling is like.”
What Mikel Arteta said about Mikel Merino playing striker
Speaking after the game, Arteta hailed Merino’s impact and said he was confident the 28-year-old could deliver i💃n th𒁃e latter stages of the match.
| Stat | Total |
| Minutes | 21 |
| Goals | 2 |
| xG | 0.74 |
| Touches | 17 |
| Accurate passes | 6/9 (67%) |
| Duels | 5 (2) |
When asked what he told Merino before bringing him off the bench at the King Power Stadium, Arteta told TNT Sport: “Thaꦯt he was going score.
“The moment they started to defend a little♔ bit deeper, we were more established and set in the final, we thought that he could deliver those moments. But it’s easier to𒐪 say that than to get it done and he was brilliant.”