Gabriel Martinelli has given his teammate Mikel Merino a new nickname at Arsenal, and it’s been earned.
Viktor Gyokeres’ injury was bad news for Arsenal ahead of the clash against Slavia Prague, but it opened the door for Merino to take the reins as the Gunners’ number nine again.
Like clockwork, the Spaniard made his mark, scoring twice in Arsenal’s 3-0 Champions League win over Slavia at the Fortuna Arena.
Mikel Arteta has been praised for his impact on Merino, seeing the potential that the midfielder has in the opposition box, enough to make him a striker.
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Mikel Merino’s new nickname after Arsenal’s Champions League win vs Slavia Prague
Signed as a defensive midfielder from Real Sociedad, very few back in the Basque Country would’ve expected to see Merino become a seasoned goalscorer at Arsenal.
Since his position change, Merino has been classed in the same bracket as some of the world’s best, making his new nickname in the Arsenal squad rather unsurprising.
On Instagram after the win over Slavia Prague, Gabriel Martinelli shared his new nickname for Merino, calling the Spaniard ‘R9’.
David Raya also conjured up a nickname for his teammate after his brace, commenting, ‘Merigol’, but it doesn’t quite have the same ring as R9.
Being a Brazilian, Martinelli sees some traits between his teammate and O Fenomeno, which actually isn’t entirely comical.
Merino’s record in 2025 is outstanding
Even Ronaldo would be impressed with Merino’s goalscoring record in 2025.
As a midfielder, the Spaniard has racked up an incredible 25 goal contributions since the start of the year for club and country.
| Goals | Assists |
| 20 | 5 |
At present, Merino is Arsenal’s top scoring player in 2025, which, while being impressive for the midfielder, shows where the Gunners need to improve.
It’s a huge relief for Arteta to be able to call on the 29-year-old, particularly as Arsenal have three strikers all sidelined by injury, with Gyokeres joining Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus in the treatment room.
Merino was at his best in front of goal against Slavia Prague, but the next question is whether he can do it in Saturday’s clash with Sunderland.
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