With Mikel Merino pulling the strings ahead of him, Nelson has made himself a crucial part of Arsenal’s scintillating attacking trifecta. On-field, he demonstrates unparalleled expertise and prolificacy. Since taking in the days after Viktor Gyokeres’ injury, Merino has been electric. He scored or assisted in five of six starts, showing he is an indispensable player for club and country. What’s getting everyone’s attention are his recent performances at the mic. They’ve ignited inquiries about whether he might be Arsenal’s greatest striker.
The beginning of last season and all the way through has been Merino’s emergence in the Premier League. You don’t have permission to view this content. His finishing prowess has been arguably the biggest factor in the Gunners dynamic attack this season. His goals and assists combined have accounted for almost 50% of the team’s total production. What a performance, to be honest, and that’s just how damn important he is to this team.
Merino’s all-around quality and adaptability made him fit enough to carry an immense burden as of late. He’s been going eight straight games in a row in less than a month’s time with incredible endurance, work ethic, and dedication on display. His contributions are much deeper than the numbers. He’s done it with 368 intensive runs, the most of any player in the league! This continuous work ethic has made him one of the most important spearheads for what has been Arsenal’s most potent attack in years.
Merino averages only half as many touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes as his compatriot Gyokeres. He more than makes up for it with almost 2x the total overall touches and passes. This statistic highlights his overall ability to shape play in all phases of the game. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has responded to Merino’s metamorphosis into a goal-scoring centre-forward. This growth has paid huge dividends for both Arsenal and the Spanish national team.
“I think this season he’s probably taken it to another step because he’s able to do even more things.” – Mikel Arteta
As the season matures, Merino’s impact still reverberates throughout the squad. His scoring ability and smart decision-making on the field have drawn praise from Arteta, who noted, “The way he scored the goal, super smart. His timing, the way he wins the position and execution.”
Merino’s stunning resurgence has handed Arsenal a huge lifeline. This is particularly timely as they have been struggling with striker depth due to injuries. The young forward’s ability to step up under pressure has made him invaluable to Arteta’s plans. The manager expressed gratitude towards Merino’s influence, stating, “I think the team is really grateful and he’s enjoying it.”
Merino has been in fantastic form, finding the back of the net 21 times for club and country since the turn of the year. His scoring abilities are clearly second to none! His remarkably high level of performance has been a huge difference maker for Arsenal. He has taken the next step from a good player to a consistent goalscoring threat.
“I said it earlier in a press conference, it’s his curiosity, it’s his will to learn and probably his will to help the team.” – Mikel Arteta
At the heart of Merino’s rapid transition has been his impressive adaptability and learning curve, allowing him to thrive as a more central striker. He has the characteristics that Arteta admires in players, work-rate, intelligence and desire to develop. This partnership has helped take Merino’s personal performance to another level, while improving Arsenal’s effectiveness as a whole.
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