Mikel Merino has emerged as a potential option at centre-forward for Arsenal, with football.london analysing his growing role in that position following recent international heroics.
The midfielder scored twice from the bench as Spain came from 1-0 down to beat Croatia 2-1 in the Nations League on Wednesday. He netted the 88th-minute winner and has now scored in three straight internationals, having also found the net against Czechia.
With Kai Havertz sidelined by hamstring injury, Merino is back in the conversation as a centre-forward option. He played regularly in that role last season, including starts against Real Madrid and PSG in the Champions League, though he has not featured there since the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in December.
Football.london writes that Arteta could hand him minutes as the striker this weekend against Leeds, though Viktor Gyokeres, who scored four goals in four games for Sweden, is on course to start in Havertz’s absence.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente praised Merino’s quality after the Croatia win, saying he would “carry him in my arms” if injury threatened his World Cup participation, and arguing he deserves more recognition than he receives.
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