Mikel Merino: Like a Meri-new Signing

[lomekian]

Our first bid for Mudryk was around 50m, Chelsea coming into the mix inflated the cost. Mudryks profile was very different to trossard, we were looking for an explosive forward who can give us some x-factor. I know Mudryk haven't reached to his potential but we still need a player who can create some magic in big games. There is always risk with high profile signings and it could either go the pepe or Havertz route.

Mudryks deal taught club a lesson though, we are now ensuring players are fully committed before we deal with the club. Rice and Merino deals are good examples.

tbf Mudryk was DESPERATE to join us, and only went to chelsea because they were willing to pay his club £20m+ more than we were. It was either go to chelsea or stay in a war zone, destroy your relationship with your club and maybe not get a shot at the big money again. Dario Srna was literally frog-marching him to Chelsea. Apparently his agent was begging Edu to match Chelsea's bid

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Spanish people were surprised about how he looked sharp during these games despite not playing much.

i think we'll see him in starting line up pretty soon won't be surprised if he started against Liverpool.

 

[Bloodbather]

tbf Mudryk was DESPERATE to join us, and only went to chelsea because they were willing to pay his club £20m+ more than we were. It was either go to chelsea or stay in a war zone, destroy your relationship with your club and maybe not get a shot at the big money again. Dario Srna was literally frog-marching him to Chelsea. Apparently his agent was begging Edu to match Chelsea's bid

Yeah, there's a lot of negationistic history about Mudryk. He was twerking hard to join us, as openly as you possibly could aside from making an appearance at the club facilities. Shared photos of himself watching Arsenal, etc.

He went to Chelsea because they paid an insane amount for him to Shakhtar, who were just looking to cash in. He wasn't in a place not to move with the Ukrainian situation.

Ultimately it went in our favor not only because we avoided paying a huge amount on a risky player but also because we pivoted to signing Trossard.

 

[pigge]

Yeah, there's a lot of negationistic history about Mudryk. He was twerking hard to join us, as openly as you possibly could aside from making an appearance at the club facilities. Shared photos of himself watching Arsenal, etc.

He went to Chelsea because they paid an insane amount for him to Shakhtar, who were just looking to cash in. He wasn't in a place not to move with the Ukrainian situation.

Ultimately it went in our favor not only because we avoided paying a huge amount on a risky player but also because we pivoted to signing Trossard.

Big bonus that Oilshea got f'kd as well. 8 Year contract lol

 

[Macho]

This guy is cooked man

Missing pre season is deeper than rap man he looked out of breath for Spain and today again.

 

[Oxeki]

He was by far our best player this half tbh.

Can't wait to see him when fully fit.

 

[Maybe]

This guy is cooked man

Missing pre season is deeper than rap man he looked out of breath for Spain and today again.

He was by far our best player this half tbh.

Can't wait to see him when fully fit.

Decided not to watch the game today as soon as I've seen the lineup, but funny to see some consistent opinions on this forum

 

[TH14shahriar]

This guy's not it, sure he wins duels, but a lot of misplaced passes today, I'll give him a pass his first start, but not confident with this signing at all.

 

[OnlyOne]

One of our better players today, so silky on the ball.

 

[MutableEarth]

I'll echo what I said in the match thread

Good ideas, average execution. Should have had an assist. Won a lot of duels. Still largely unconvincing from a possession POV but I think that's largely because he also played alongside Rice and #5 in the same midfield. I'm not gonna get on his case just yet, I think a lot of the criticism against him is to do with Ethan not starting.

 

[RunTheTrap]

I was never in favour of signing and I don't rate him. But he was forced to play as an SS where the creative burden fell on him. Today's game is not a true representation of what this player can offer us.

 

[Maybe]

Nothing against him but it is not what we needed at all. Him and Rice look so weird together on the pitch, wonder what was the plan behind that

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

If you gonna judge merino and say he played poorly then you have to go to every player thread who started today and say the same.

Merino was average and didn't even play in his position there clear lack of understanding between his teammates too

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Nothing against him but it is not what we needed at all. Him and Rice look so weird together on the pitch, wonder what was the plan behind that

Plan was to play Rice DM Merino LCM Ødegaard RCM. Merino today played RCM and Rice LCM no wonder it look very unbalanced

 

[Maybe]

Plan was to play Rice DM Merino LCM Ødegaard RCM. Merino today played RCM and Rice LCM no wonder it look very unbalanced

I guess, but I'm not gonna lie, it looks slow and boring

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

Maybe it's just rustiness but this guy was blowing after 30 minutes.

He's not mobile enough currently and he's not quick enough of thought to make up for that.

This guy makes Xhaka look nimble.

You can get away with that more in certain leagues but I think it's going to be tough for him to make it as a starter here unless he improves dramatically.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

I guess, but I'm not gonna lie, it looks slow and boring

It'll look always like this until we get Ødegaard and Saka back these tow guys job is to connect between midfield and attack and win duels.

 

[Tir Na Nog]

He's a big pile of "meh" to me, he doesn't add anything that we lack. Maybe it'll all click when we've got our first XI.

 

[boonthegoon]

I liked what I saw, obviously still rusty due to no preseason + that injury.

Too early to judge

 

[Macho]

Decided not to watch the game today as soon as I've seen the lineup, but funny to see some consistent opinions on this forum

To be fair I didn't get at him for his play, but the guy was gasping for air shortly after the red which must have been like 30 mins into the match.

Both statements you quoted could have been true (I wasn't really impressed by anything I saw but not the game to judge him).