Mikel Merino: Like a Meri-new Signing

[Mrs Bergkamp]

I thought he looked a bit cumbersome on the turn and my heart stopped a couple of times when he tried to play out of trouble. I hope that will improve with match fitness.

 

[Gn1212]

Easily his best appearance here and more of the Merino that used to be regarded as one of the best midfielders in La Liga.

Excited to see more of that soon.

 

[Red London]

I thought he looked a bit cumbersome on the turn and my heart stopped a couple of times when he tried to play out of trouble. I hope that will improve with match fitness.

I think it’s somewhat part of his style to invite pressure from opposition players.

 

[Bloodbather]

I think it’s somewhat part of his style to invite pressure from opposition players.

That's what @elvelux, the Sociedad fan, said here:

Mikel Merino

Roumors here in San Sebastian from club sources say that it is now Arsenal or renewing his contract With Real Sociedad. He would accept Barcelona but they can not sign him if they go first for Nico Williams. I love coming in other team forums and seeing how people talk about players I know very...

arsenal-mania.com

He invites pressure to take them out of play. Risky, but pretty valuable for the build-up when he pulls it off.

 

[SA Gunner]

Think he can provide good competition/rotation to Rice in the six, and when paired with Calafiori makes for an incisive left hand side.

Something like this...

Martinelli --- Havertz ----Saka
-------Nwaneri --- Ødegaard
----------Merino/Rice
Cala -- Gabriel ---- Saliba -- White/Timber
----------------Raya

The issue I have with Merino is how he supports our right side, or becomes a base for the triangle of Saka-Ode-White. Rice with his right foot becomes a natural in that position, tidying up loose balls in that area and stopping counter attacks.

I think this team has the balance to needed to be strong defensively and incisive in attack. Im hoping Arteta can show some innovation and bravery, and bring this to life.

 

[SA Gunner]

I want to see a Calafiori - Merino - Martinelli left side for a sustained period. I honestly think that would offer us the best balance that side of the pitch. The question mark becomes what you do between Rice and Partey then.

TP drops to the bench.

The best midfield three will contain Nwaneri/Merino -- Rice -- Ødegaard in my opinion. I would say Rice as the six is probably my selection, with Nwaneri/Merino in the LCM depending on requirements.

Ødegaard becomes our DLP more as well, allowing us to have both the creativity deeper as well as cover in Rice.

 

[HattoriHanzo]

Well no because if we'd had our way, we'd also have bought Nico Williams to replace Martinelli. Helping Martinelli might be a byproduct of those 2 players clicking but Martinelli is one Arteta has been trying to replace for well over a year now. They were purchased for their own fit within the system he wants to play and their own individual qualities. I doubt he thought much at all about Martinelli when signing them.

So the fact that Martinelli's statistic in season 2022/23 of 15G+5A dropped to 6G+4A in season 2023/24 has nothing to do with the players behind him?
In season 2022/23 he had Zinchenko and Xhaka behind him, both very good that season.
Last season he didn't have this kind of support, he had Zinchenko, Kiwior, Tomiyasu whern fit, Havertz behind him.
Can we say that this left side hasn't been as good as the one in season 2022/23?
It wasn't even stable, due to injuries, tactics, poor form, etc.

And Martinelli is still our main LW, so Calafiori and Merino will play with him, not with Nico Williams who might never come to Arsenal.
Who knows, with them behind him, Martinelli might have very good season.

 

[Batman]

So the fact that Martinelli's statistic in season 2022/23 of 15G+5A dropped to 6G+4A in season 2023/24 has nothing to do with the players behind him?
In season 2022/23 he had Zinchenko and Xhaka behind him, both very good that season.
Last season he didn't have this kind of support, he had Zinchenko, Kiwior, Tomiyasu whern fit, Havertz behind him.
Can we say that this left side hasn't been as good as the one in season 2022/23?
It wasn't even stable, due to injuries, tactics, poor form, etc.

And Martinelli is still our main LW, so Calafiori and Merino will play with him, not with Nico Williams who might never come to Arsenal.
Who knows, with them behind him, Martinelli might have very good season.

No, it doesn't because his own decision making and execution is the problem. Do you think when he made that pathetic shot/cross right to the keeper that he should have put away against Chelsea that Xhaka and Zinchenko being on the pitch would have magically made his execution better? Of course not.

More importantly, you're not addressing the point I made. I took issue with you suggesting that Arteta bought 2 players specifically to help Martinelli when one of his priorities along with those 2 players was to sign someone who would have benched Martinelli, a player he has now tried to replace at least twice. He definitely didn't spend 60m on 2 players to hold Martinelli's hand. It was to benefit the squad as a whole and if he had been able to get the player he wanted this summer, Nico Williams, Nelli would be playing Carabao Cup games and not much else.

 

[HattoriHanzo]

No, it doesn't because his own decision making and execution is the problem. Do you think when he made that pathetic shot/cross right to the keeper that he should have put away against Chelsea that Xhaka and Zinchenko being on the pitch would have magically made his execution better? Of course not.

More importantly, you're not addressing the point I made. I took issue with you suggesting that Arteta bought 2 players specifically to help Martinelli when one of his priorities along with those 2 players was to sign someone who would have benched Martinelli, a player he has now tried to replace at least twice. He definitely didn't spend 60m on 2 players to hold Martinelli's hand. It was to benefit the squad as a whole and if he had been able to get the player he wanted this summer, Nico Williams, Nelli would be playing Carabao Cup games and not much else.

I thought that it is logical to assume that when the club buys certain players, it is to benefit the squad as a whole, not only just certain player.
Do I have to say that so specifically?

My intention was to say that our LW (who is Martinelli) didn't have support behind him last season like 2 seasons ago and that this was addressed with Calafiori and Merino.
Is it clear now?

 

[Batman]

I thought that it is logical to assume that when the club buys certain players, it is to benefit the squad as a whole, not only just certain player.
Do I have to say that so specifically?

My intention was to say that our LW (who is Martinelli) didn't have support behind him last season like 2 seasons ago and that this was addressed with Calafiori and Merino.
Is it clear now?

Yes, now it's clearer because it seemed like you were saying they were brought in to help Martinelli individually.

 

[coleio]

I liked Merino's cameo against Chelsea.

I've read the post about him drawing opposition players to free others up and from this cameo, he looked very good at that. Very press resistant.

It won't work all the time but we need to take that risk. If we wait for certainty we end up in the horseshoe of death.

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

I think it’s somewhat part of his style to invite pressure from opposition players.

I think you're right. It's just how he looks doing it compared to Partey and Raya. Match fitness should see him improve.

 

[Tell.]

Easily his best appearance here and more of the Merino that used to be regarded as one of the best midfielders in La Liga.

Excited to see more of that soon.

this just isn't true.

 

[Bloodbather]

this just isn't true.

It definitely is true. Regular for the Spanish national team, named in the La Liga Team of the Season in 2023, highest rated La Liga midfielder on WhoScored in 2024, etc. Every La Liga analyst I've ever listened to rated him highly.

 

[1macca1]

Isn’t this good considering he was identified as squad/ Rice cover?

Maybe, I was expecting him to be a starter myself. Also Calafiori and Timber have both joined and look to offer something different to what was already here which I like.

 

[Gooner Zig]

So the fact that Martinelli's statistic in season 2022/23 of 15G+5A dropped to 6G+4A in season 2023/24 has nothing to do with the players behind him?
In season 2022/23 he had Zinchenko and Xhaka behind him, both very good that season.
Last season he didn't have this kind of support, he had Zinchenko, Kiwior, Tomiyasu whern fit, Havertz behind him.
Can we say that this left side hasn't been as good as the one in season 2022/23?
It wasn't even stable, due to injuries, tactics, poor form, etc.

And Martinelli is still our main LW, so Calafiori and Merino will play with him, not with Nico Williams who might never come to Arsenal.
Who knows, with them behind him, Martinelli might have very good season.

I think Nelli's 22/23 numbers are more due to him being extremely hot in front of goal. IF you look at his xG from 22/23 vs 23/24 they are very similar.

 

[OnlyOne]

All-rounder.

 

[Iwobeast]

Laughable that people were already writing him off, he will prove to be an astute signing

 

[Taylor Gang Gunners]

Quietly went about his business today. His cameo against Chelski and his performance today were very encouraging. He looks ready to try and break into the starting XI.

 

[SA Gunner]

Reminds me of Xhaka in the middle, particularly deeper. Has a real intelligence about him in how he moves the ball, fully understanding his limitations.

Starting to settle in now, good to see.