Mikel Merino (23)

[theHotHead]

He certainly seems to have a knack for scoring goals. Can the manager find a way of extracting the best from him ?

this is the problem with being rigid, having a system and not being able to adapt/change. Were I manager I would like at the players that are good that I want and formulate a system that suits them - not the other way round. There are lots of ways to skin a cat, but surely playing the players in a way that suits them is the best thing to do.

[Jedi]

Starts next game ahead of Gyokeres?

Yawn

Start on the right ahead of Ode exactly where he plays for Italy giving gykores support

This.

So you guys want him to start in Odegaards position and keep the 3 CDM "negative tacitcs"?

Also Merino doesn't play for Italy.

[Jedi]

He certainly seems to have a knack for scoring goals. Can the manager find a way of extracting the best from him ?

this is the problem with being rigid, having a system and not being able to adapt/change. Were I manager I would like at the players that are good that I want and formulate a system that suits them - not the other way round. There are lots of ways to skin a cat, but surely playing the players in a way that suits them is the best thing to do.

Not being able to adapt? And you're talking about a player that Arteta literally switched from CDM to CF for half of last season? Are you okay, sir?

[theHotHead]

He certainly seems to have a knack for scoring goals. Can the manager find a way of extracting the best from him ?

this is the problem with being rigid, having a system and not being able to adapt/change. Were I manager I would like at the players that are good that I want and formulate a system that suits them - not the other way round. There are lots of ways to skin a cat, but surely playing the players in a way that suits them is the best thing to do.

Not being able to adapt? And you're talking about a player that Arteta literally switched from CDM to CF for half of last season? Are you okay, sir?

Was that adapting or did he have no choice because we were short of numbers?! Adapting is making a conscious decision to make a change, not having it forced on you. What you are talking about is doing the necessary to survive, its not the same thing - although ultimately it is adapting but you know exactly the point I am making.

We are not talking the dictionary definition of adapting, we are talking about making changes and choices optionally on the pitch to affect to result of the game.

[Fran Solo]

Starts next game ahead of Gyokeres?

In the league? No. I will certainly start him in the league cup against Port Vale. We only have one fit CF at this moment. Gyokeres should have enough rest.

[swipe right]

Small team mentality expecting Merino to get us goals. Never win the league this way.

[Highbury Hillbilly]

Small team mentality expecting Merino to get us goals. Never win the league this way.

Billion-pound team and we're resorting to relegation fodder hacks like long throws, corner goals from CBs, LBs as attackers and now CMs as strikers.

Merino at Arsenal doesn't have the likes of Pedri, Nico Williams or Yamal playing alongside him. None of these players are sideways passing their way to goal.

[ag6789]

It is only Turkey. PL clubs are stronger than Turkey and play more physical, pressing football.
Club football is couple of notches above international football nowadays, because clubs accumulate top talents all over the world.

[Rockape]

I have to say that when I read HH saying that what Merino did for us up front last season wasn't exceptional, I laughed. It was fkin exceptional!!

There's a reason top goal scorers get the big bucks...because it ain't easy! Those goals for Spain underlined his quality in front of goal and makes you think there must be a role for him backing up our attack.

[Goonerfromafrica]

442, Gyokeres and Merino up front

[theHotHead]

I have to say that when I read HH saying that what Merino did for us up front last season wasn't exceptional, I laughed. It was fkin exceptional!!

There's a reason top goal scorers get the big bucks...because it ain't easy! Those goals for Spain underlined his quality in front of goal and makes you think there must be a role for him backing up our attack.

It wasn't exceptional Rockape, when you are the focal point in attack you will get a lot of chances. Even if you were Carlton Palmer you would score a few goals, law of averages ! Had he scored that number of goals from midfield then I would agree, its exceptional. Put me up top for Arsenal and I'd score a few.

Merino seems to score loads of goals for Spain from midfield, it's something that Arteta should be looking into, to determine why so we can leverage his obvious ability to score from midfield.

And by the way, thats not the reason goal scorers get the big bucks, its because goal scorers get the headlines and thus the biggest rewards. If you look at teams the big bucks start at the striker and fall as you make your way through the team back to the keeper. You don't pay to watch someone make a tackle, you pay to see people score goals and bring excitement. There has always been a bias to strikers.

[swipe right]

Merino is not the answer. Just as Havertz was not the answer. The answer lies in a number ten who will unlock the natural scoring instincts of Gyokeres, Saka, Eze, Noni etc.

[Yago]

Merino is not the answer. Just as Havertz was not the answer. The answer lies in a number ten who will unlock the natural scoring instincts of Gyokeres, Saka, Eze, Noni etc.

That's nonsense imo. The answer lies in a different tactical approach.

[ag6789]

The 3 new players have to prove they can score goals and decide games. Before that any discussion about their abilities is nonsensical.
What they do at Arsenal only counts , that's all.

[ag6789]

Merino was injured for first 2 months, last season, then played 2nd fiddle to Rice at no.8, with limited appearances.
Only after injury to Havertz he had a run of games and proved to be handful up top
If Gyorkeres doesn't score enough, in near future, he remains a viable option, until other forwards return from injuries.