Mikel Merino: Merchine

[Sulosky]

He's done really well but I think Merino is oddly underrated for his work in midfield whilst being slightly overrated as a striker here.

You put Lampard as a number 9 and he would get goals but it's still not his best position... Playing in midfield you can see that Merino has a lot of strengths - he's very technical, good vision on short and intricate passing, pretty good at winning the ball. And then obviously his super powers are his heading, instincts in the box and finishing. "Hold up play" can mean different things but he's a solid link player (in some games exceptional at this).

I just like him best in midfield which seems to suit his natural positioning. He's slow and can't dribble but we know that and the box crashing goals and general versatility make him a super useful squad player to have.

You are right Merino’s position is lower and central. The reason why many are probably excited about Merino in the number 9 position is that he is actually only our fourth option for that spot. And the fact that we have a good player for that position is really great. If Merino were played in his natural position we would probably have Trossard as the striker and he just has not convinced in that role in the same way.

 

[Barry]

You are right Merino’s position is lower and central. The reason why many are probably excited about Merino in the number 9 position is that he is actually only our fourth option for that spot. And the fact that we have a good player for that position is really great. If Merino were played in his natural position we would probably have Trossard as the striker and he just has not convinced in that role in the same way.

Yeah absolutely, great option for us and really fortunate that he's done so well there considering some of the injuries. Also, some of the goals he's scored have been absolute bangers...

 

[viktor]

 

[MutableEarth]

Not exactly bringing up a novel claim here but I much prefer him as a striker. His general play really leaves a lot to be desired for a CMbut he's certainly a clever finisher and makes good decisions in the final 3rd.

 

[BBF]

Not exactly bringing up a novel claim here but I much prefer him as a striker. His general play really leaves a lot to be desired for a CMbut he's certainly a clever finisher and makes good decisions in the final 3rd.

It's a weird one.

Midfielders typically improve their decision-making over time, and yet, it feels like Merino is doing it the other way round. He's clinical as it gets, but the midfield basics could do with more work. A very unique player - it has to be said.

 

[Melquiades]

I credit Merino, to step in as a makeshift striker he's done very well.

The problem is he just doesn't fit into the set up as striker, however many he scores.

Both Havertz and Gyokeres can hold the line in their respective ways, with Merino it's always coming deep ( which is understandable given he's a midfielder by trade) and he lacks the engine and mobility to really fit in up top. He can't get in behind so that really limits us too.

I've no issue with him being our emergency striker, but that's as far as it would go for me with him.

I said it with Havertz and I feel the same with Gyok. It's not all about how many goals the striker gets it's more important how he fits into the attacking unit as a whole.

He's still a really useful squad player.

Exactly.

He's a surprisingly clinical finisher which is great but other than being able to finish a perfect cross well and take his chances when they fall to him he isn't really doing much else to help the team function offensively or to create space or chances for other players. Havertz and Gyokeres are much better overall attackers while putting similar numbers of balls into the goal.

But to have a guy like this in your back pocket who can cover and finish chances when your squad is thin is a godsend.

 

[Diesel]

Saka should be taken off at 65 he cannot finish this one

 

[Fewtch]

 

[Gooner Zig]

Quality rage bait tbf

 

[Rain Dance]

Just want to be clear, this is not me

 

[viktor]

arsenal fans angry to merino when merino pick pedri haha imagine angry with fact

 

[Legend14]

Fantastic match by him today. Controlled the pitch and involved with goals.

Keep it up.

 

[StefanB]

Fantastic match by him today. Controlled the pitch and involved with goals.

Keep it up.

Like I've mentioned before I think he's really underrated. Do I think he's the best midfielder? No of course not, but as an alternative to Rice he's excellent, and alongside that he's doing a very decent job at covering our injured strikers.

He might be a bit slow at times, but he's very intelligent and has a wand of a left foot and time and time again comes up with something when the team needs it.

 

[North5]

M9

 

[OnlyOne]

Does it drive anyone else crazy when instead of holding the ball he trys to do this turn and in most cases gets caught on the ball?

Other than that this guys decent.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Does it drive anyone else crazy when instead of holding the ball he trys to do this turn and in most cases gets caught on the ball?

Other than that this guys decent.

yes he can't simply hold the ball that something i hate about him he a midfielder how he just keep losing the ball under pressure that the biggest thing annoy me with him

but again he capable of doing things you don't expect that assist today was world class.

 

[RunTheTrap]

Sometimes good, sometimes ****. Mikel Merino. We aren't meant to understand him. He is an enigma wrapped in a puzzle and dipped into a vat of chaos. The question isn't what Merino is, the question is how do you Merino?

*Taps the sign*

 

[boonthegoon]

Great assist for the first and was pretty involved in many attacks. He's doing his job well. Only thing which irritates me is he sometimes ends up coming too back (he was in at RB once)

 

[Heavy Duty Rom]

Unreal pass for the first. Done well to scoop out a pass for the 4th. So so good at dropping into space and releasing a runner.

 

[RandomHero84]

Had a great game. More than the sum of his parts. Such an unusual but also effective player.