Troy Deeney thinks he has been proven right about one thing he said regarding Arsenal this season.
The Gunners have had a great campaign so far. They are on top of the Premier League and Champions League tables and are the favourites to win both competitions.
One of the biggest reasons behind their success so far is their squad depth. Arsenal have at least two players in every position on the pitch, and that has helped them a lot this season.
One position where they have more than two options is up front. Mikel Merino’s recent form shows that, and Deeney feels he deserves some recognition for that.
Who is Arsenal’s best striker now as Mikel Merino scores again?
Troy Deeney tells Arsenal fans to apologise after his comments on Mikel Merino and Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal were in desperate need of a new striker in the summer, and Viktor Gyokeres became the chosen one.
The Swede was the most prolific centre-forward on the planet during his time at Sporting CP, and his numbers there convinced the Gunners that he was the right man.
Gyokeres has had a decent start to life at Arsenal. He has scored six goals in 13 starts, and that number could’ve been more if he hadn’t suffered his injury against Burnley.
Troy Deeney, who knows a thing or two about being a striker, predicted in the summer that Gyokeres would not play as many minutes as Kai Havertz or Merino.
After watching the Spaniard play up front in recent weeks, the pundit is feeling vindicated and has demanded an apology from Arsenal fans for doubting his comments at the time.
He wrote on BBC Sport: “I would also like all the Arsenal fans to comment on this and say ‘sorry Troy, you were right again’.
“I said at the start of the season that he and Kai Havertz would play more games than Viktor Gyokeres because they are much better footballers. That’s not a slight on Gyokeres – they just have different skillsets.
“Merino’s ability to drop in the pockets, drop in at number nine and not have a reference point for any centre-back to get near him, and of course keep scoring like in the 2-0 win over Brentford, is why he’s in the team.”
Has Mikel Merino become undroppable at Arsenal or should Viktor Gyokeres come straight back in? Tell us what you think and why!
Mikel Merino is brilliant, but Troy Deeney is missing a key point
Merino has been magnificent up top for Arsenal in recent games, and he completely deserves to keep his place in the side ahead of Gyokeres.
The way the Spaniard drops deep, links play up and makes space for others is outstanding, and Deeney’s praise is justified.
However, what the former Watford captain is completely ignoring here is that Gyokeres was injured last month and is currently being eased back into the side.
When the Swede was fully fit, he was starting every game up top ahead of Merino. That shows how wrong Deeney is.
That being said, based on current form, Merino should continue as Arsenal’s striker in the coming games.
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