Mikel Merino told which role he will actually play for Arsenal, but one former star really disagrees

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Mikel Merino is now officially an Arsenal player.

After a long-running transfer saga, Mikel Arteta has finally been able to bolster his Arsenal midfield contingent with the signing of Mikel Merino.

Arsenal officially announced Merino’s arrival earlier today, meaning that he could play a part when the Gunners welcome Brighton to the Emirates Stadium this weekend.

The Spaniard’s arrival has provided the Gunners with some much-needed strength in depth in the middle of the park. Arteta now has several decisions to make as to how he will construct his midfield from the options available to him.

Whilst Arteta has suggested Kai Havertz could play in midfield at times this season, for now the German is settled up front and will continue leading the line. 

However, there are still questions to be answered when it comes to how Merino’s arrival will impact Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, and what this signing means for Jorginho and Thomas Partey. 

• READ MORE: All Mikel Arteta signings at Arsenal ranked from worst to best

Mikel Arteta’s options after Arsenal sign Mikel Merino

Jorginho has shown signs of decline recently, and Partey’s injury record means that he cannot be relied upon to remain fit and available on any kind of long-term basis. It has to be assumed that the veteran midfield duo will both edge down the pecking order as a consequence of Merino’s arrival.

As such, the Gunners’ preferred midfield trio going forward will likely be comprised of the newly arrived Euro 2024 winner, Rice, and Odegaard.

Odegaard will stay where he is, as the right-sided of Arsenal’s two more advanced midfielders. The Norwegian playmaker has a pre-existing connection with the 28-year-old, as they both spent time together at Real Sociedad.

That relationship could now be rekindled if they were to be partnered up together just behind the striker. Merino’s exceptional aerial prowess would also come into play in this role, as he could attack the box and connect with crosses, making himself a real goal threat.

However, Rice has flourished in this more attacking role recently, and Merino is also capable of playing as a No. 6, at the base of the midfield. 

Pundit and ex-Arsenal star clash over Merino and Declan Rice conundrum 

Speaking on ESPN, pundit Gabriele Marcotti and former Arsenal player Stewart Robson recently disagreed about where Merino will feature for the Gunners. 

As Marcotti insisted that the former Real Sociedad man would be tasked with protecting the back four, Robson asked: “He [Merino] plays as a holding midfield player [at Arsenal]?”

Marcotti explained: “Yeah… I think against most teams he’s going to do what Jorginho was asked to do, which is pick your passes, unlock situations.”

The ex-Arsenal midfielder then argued that Merino ought to be deployed further forward, with Rice held back in the deeper-lying role.

Robson said: “But one of the things that Merino can do… playing further forward… When balls go wide, which you have to do when you’re playing against a packed defence and you’re getting crosses into the box, he’s a midfield player that can come and head the ball, so he would be a threat in those situations.”

In truth, Rice and Merino’s mutual versatility means that they will likely rotate and interchange with one another throughout matches, making the Gunners a far more dynamic and fluid force. The more they play together, the more seamless these transitions shall become. 

Of course, there will also still be roles for Jorginho and Partey, whose quality and experience will be required over the course of what is sure to be a gruelling campaign, but Arteta will be relieved to be somewhat less reliant upon the pair now.