#mikel-merino

#mikel-merino

Arsenal's makeshift striker Mikel Merino had a very poor game against Aston Villa today, perhaps showing that Mikel Arteta needs to end this experiment. The Spain international has filled in pretty well as an emergency centre-forward, scoring in recent games against Chelsea and Brentford, but in general it surely can't be considered a long-term option. Against Villa today we saw Merino thoroughly shackled, with the 29-year-old barely able to make any kind of impact on the game.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has heaped praise onto Mikel Merino for the way he's performed up front in recent times. The Spain international arrived at the Emirates Stadium with the reputation of being a hard-working utility man in midfield, but he's shown some superb finishing when asked to fill in up front. Merino had a surprisingly good run in the team as a makeshift striker last season, and he filled in there again last night as Viktor Gyokeres was out injured.

The sight of Mikel Merino wheeling away in celebration after scoring while playing as a striker is something Arsenal fans have got used to over the past nine months. And the midfielder-turned-frontman was at it again on Tuesday, scoring twice in their 3-0 Champions League win at Slavia Prague. The 29-year-old was filling in for Viktor Gyokeres, whose muscle injury is "concerning" manager Mikel Arteta as the Swede prepares for further tests.

One key acquisition will be a new striker. Darwin Nunez will almost certainly depart Anfield to open up a spot for a superior No 9 but they do not come cheap.