Mikel Merino shares honest verdict on ‘surprise’ striker role at Arsenal after conversation with Mikel Arteta

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal found a way to keep their title hopes alive at Leicester with an unlikely hero grabbing the headlines.

With the game at 0-0 and Arsenal struggling to create any clear cut chances in the final third, Mikel Arteta threw Mikel Merino on in an unfamiliar striker role.

The Spanish midfielder was given no warning in relation to his new role but produced two fine finishes to win the game for the Gunners and have Arsenal fans calling for him to play as a striker.

With West Ham up next at the Emirates Stadium, Hammers boss Graham Potter is arriving with a plan to frustrate Arteta’s side once again and Merino may be called upon to produce the goods once more.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta says he’s seen something at Arsenal recently that ‘really re-energised’ him after ‘big worry’

Mikel Merino reveals ‘perfect timing’ of being told by Mikel Arteta he was playing striker role

Speaking to Sky Sports, Merino has opened up on the moment against Leicester that he found out from the manager that he was going to be playing as a makeshift centre forward.

Merino stated: “I think it was the perfect timing to talk about it because it gave me enough time to you know think about it as a reality but at the same time I didn’t have to overthink it.”

The 28-year-old has now scored four goals in the Premier League this season and has demonstrated that he will do anything to help the team in their quest for silverware.

Merino explained: “It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t my position, it doesn’t matter if I felt uncomfortable maybe sometimes but in order to help the team, I had to have the right mentality and I showed that I had it.”

Merino is beginning to turn around Arsenal career after a stuttering start

His Arsenal career got off to the worst possible start as Merino picked up a shoulder injury in one of his first training sessions at the club.

The Spaniard has received criticism for a number of performances this season since his return to the side, Arsenal fans bemoaned Merino’s performance against Everton in just one example of the mixed view on the midfielder.

However, one thing that could never be labelled at Merino during his lacklustre performances was his effort and willingness to help the team and he is now showing that in abundance with his adaptability.

He wasn’t the big name forward signing that many believed Arsenal needed back in the summer but the Spaniard could yet prove to be a shrewd piece of business by Arteta as the campaign enters crunch time.