Arteta’s Gamble Pays Off – But Is Merino the Answer Up Top?

Will Mikel Merino see out the season as Arsenal’s No. 9, or will Arteta be tempted to rejig his attack once Bukayo Saka returns? With Arsenal’s default striking options, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, sidelined by season-ending injuries, Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff have been forced to adapt their attacking setup. Ahead of the […] The post Arteta’s Gamble Pays Off – But Is Merino the Answer Up Top? appeared first on Just Arsenal News.

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Arteta’s Gamble Pays Off – But Is Merino the Answer Up Top?

Will Mikel Merino see out the season as Arsenal’s No. 9, or will Arteta be tempted to rejig his attack once Bukayo Saka returns?

With Arsenal’s default striking options, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, sidelined by season-ending injuries, Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff have been forced to adapt their attacking setup.

Ahead of the Chelsea match, many Gooners expected the Merino false 9 experiment to conclude with Gabriel Martinelli back in the fold. However, that wasn’t the case.
Instead of the anticipated front three of Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Ethan Nwaneri, Arteta stuck with Merino as the false 9, flanked by Martinelli and Trossard.

Twenty minutes into the London derby, Merino headed in a Martin Ødegaard corner to open the scoring. That solitary goal decided the match, vindicating Arteta’s decision to persist with him in the role.

Intriguingly, after the Chelsea game, an interesting stat emerged. Since Merino began featuring as a false 9, he has scored three goals—surpassed only by Mohamed Salah (5) and Omar Marmoush (4) during that period.