‘You’ve just got to…’ Wayne Rooney tells Mikel Merino exactly what he needs to do as emergency Arsenal striker

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After spending years tormenting the Gunners, Premier League icon Wayne Rooney sent Arsenal some advice.

Mikel Arteta’s side are in a trialling position due to limited resources, with just three forwards available to the manager.

Though Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri have 163 Premier League goals between them, Arteta sees none of them as a reliable number nine, calling an unlikely figure into action.

Mikel Merino scored a brace in his first appearance as a centre-forward and ever since, Arsenal have trusted the Spaniard as a striker but, goals haven’t been seen since his dream debut.

Wayne Rooney offers advice to Mikel Merino

Paul Merson was stunned at Merino’s role as a striker, insisting that Arteta was wrong to field a midfielder as a number nine.

While the Arsenal legend’s opinion is shared by many, the boss is keeping the faith in his plan, starting Merino up front for a third consecutive game.

To some, Arsenal having Merino as a striker is regarded as a weakness, which is expected from an experienced midfielder dressed up as a goalscorer.

For now, the Spaniard must remain confident of what he can offer to Arteta’s plan, with Wayne Rooney sharing some advice on the art of versatility in attack.

“I think with any forward, you’ve just got to put yourself in the right place and hope your teammates can create chances,” Rooney said to Amazon Prime Video before Arsenal’s clash with PSV Eindhoven. 

“The Champions League is very different, especially the knockout stages, to the Premier League. Your concentration levels have to be 100%.”

Coming from a player with 313 domestic career goals, Merino should take note of Rooney’s words of encouragement but, the Euro 2024 winner can’t do it all on his own.

Arsenal need to step up to help Merino

What Merino doesn’t offer Arsenal is a reliable goalscoring threat but, the summer signing is a force to be reckoned with thanks to his aerial presence.

To better help the Spaniard, Arteta needs those behind the makeshift number nine to support him by creating chances. 

Due to key injuries, Arsenal aren’t causing as much trouble to the opposition as they normally would, with Graham Potter mentioning the Gunners’ lack of threat in the recent defeat to West Ham. 

Merino can only do what he’s capable of as a midfielder playing in an alien role, with those around him needing to do more if Arteta’s experiment is to work.