Jamie Carragher believes that Mikel Merino is actually Arsenal’s best striker right now, and he has been raving about the Spaniard’s form this season.
The Spanish international has 11 goals for club and country this season and is really making the number nine role his own.
With Viktor Gyokeres underperforming and both Kai Havertz plus Gabriel Jesus out injured, the Gunners have really needed Merino to step up.
👀 Start one, bench two and sell one…
Mikel Merino, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz…
The 29-year-old has certainly done that over recent weeks with key goals against Chelsea and Brentford.
Carragher has now been discussing the striker situation at the Emirates Stadium, and he believes Merino is now Mikel Arteta’s main man.
Jamie Carragher hails Mikel Merino’s form for Arsenal
Jamie Carragher believes that Mikel Merino has been ‘fantastic’ for Arsenal this season and is now ahead of the queue in the race for the number nine role.
Last season, Arteta made the shock call to move Merino to striker, and he looks to have struck gold with some of the Spaniard’s performance in that role.
Now, the former Premier League defender thinks that Merino is ahead of Gyokeres in the pecking order, despite the latter starting against Wolves.
Carragher told Sky Sports: “Merino, right now, I actually think he is the first choice. I know Gyokeres played at the weekend, but I think that was just down to the fact that he was just back from injury, it was Wolves at home, and he needed a game.
“Merino has been fantastic, getting goals in that position as a number nine, Havertz is almost another version of that.”
Carragher also slammed Gyokeres and questioned whether the Swede is actually good enough to make the grade in North London.
On the other hand, Olivier Giroud is still backing Gyokeres; however, it’s not been an easy start to life for the 27-year-old.
Mikel Arteta will love to see Kai Havertz close to returning
Havertz is close to making his return from injury, with the German international targeting a return before the start of the New Year.
Arteta is a huge fan of Havertz at Arsenal, and it’s no wonder, given his impressive record of 32 goal contributions in 48 games up front.
Change our mind: Kai Havertz is comfortably Arsenal’s best striker when fit…
Or are you picking Mikel Merino, Gabriel Jesus or Viktor Gyokeres over him?
The former Chelsea man is a key part of this Arsenal team, with his link-up play often extracting the best from the Gunners’ other attackers.
But whoever Arteta chooses, the battle for the number nine role will be truly fascinating when everyone is fully fit.
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