Mikel Merino: Merchine

[Mudi]

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.

Seems so slow, it seems that he will be chasing the ball instead of anticipating. Partey and Jorginho look like 2 gears faster than this guy ...

 

[blaze_of_glory]

Still way too early to judge.

But I am not above changing the title to Meri-poo if at some point necessary

 

[Riou]

A slow cumbersome looking midfielder that's not really good on the ball, but can tackle and is quite tall.

Declan Merino, welcome to The Arsenal!

 

[fute]

Arteta has a type.

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

He wasn't up to speed mentally but got around the pitch trying to make things happen albeit I've no idea what his actual instructions were. I hope he'll improve and be placed at LCM to get a run.

 

[Deleted member 98559]

A slow cumbersome looking midfielder that's not really good on the ball, but can tackle and is quite tall.

Declan Merino, welcome to The Arsenal!

Do you remember that Javi Martinez guy who played for Bayern years ago which was effective for them back then? thought we would have something like that but didn't expect 3 of them on the pitch

 

[pure profit FC]

looks like a carthorse and a bit lost out there, it's only one game but i'm not sure if he'll ever catch the pace of this league, why do we always buy plodders in midfield? just once i'd like to see someone with a bit of mobility and athleticism to compliment all these cloggers we have.

 

[Tnegs]

I thought he was good enough on the ball he’s not meant to be an attacking midfielder and starting alongside 2 other DM must have been bizarre for him. God know what Arteta thought he was going to do in that role.

 

[MartiSaka]

Dont watch a lot of la liga but those who do have been pretty much spot on in what he has offered so far. Wont criticise his ability but wasnt what we needed based on our what we struggled with last yr.

 

[fute]

Real talk: Can he do what Xhaka did for us?

Or is he a different type of player?

 

[Dokaka]

FWIW I thought he did very well creating that chance for Martinelli. Highlights some of his best aspects, good reader of the game, eats up ground and has a sprinkle of flair to his game in attack Rice and Partey don't have.

Early days but I feel like he's doing exactly what was expected of him by the people who watched him in La Liga, which - in my opinion - isn't what you needed in midfield.

Real talk: Can he do what Xhaka did for us?

Or is he a different type of player?

I don't understand why they keep getting compared. The only thing they share is their preferred foot really.

 

[Tir Na Nog]

He's like the Pablo Mari of midfielders

 

[SA Gunner]

He’s fine, has a good eye and has the composure to compensate for his lack of pace.

Don’t think he benches TP or Rice immediately, would probably start to combine more once Ødegaard is back and Calafiori gets more ingrained.

Good option to have though… gives our left side that much needed life.

 

[Red London]

I love how some people are talking about him like he’s already had a body of work here to judge him from.

As some posters have said, it’s early to judge and this wasn’t the right game to judge really. The verdict is barely 10% loaded as far as I’m concerned.

 

[Deleted member 98559]

I love how some people are talking about him like he’s already had a body of work here to judge him from.

As some posters have said, it’s early to judge and this wasn’t the right game to judge really. The verdict is barely 10% loaded as far as I’m concerned.

The question marks were raised even in the summer, with this guy I don't think he is a bad individual, but I do feel like he won't fit next to Rice. You have one or the other, never both of them, but it's a long season and we'll see if I was wrong on this

 

[BigPoppaPump]

I think he's good just needs to get fit, missing pre season and then getting an injury in your first training session mean he won't be up to speed for months. Probably won't see the best of him until next season tbh.

 

[Topside]

He’s fine, has a good eye and has the composure to compensate for his lack of pace.

Don’t think he benches TP or Rice immediately, would probably start to combine more once Ødegaard is back and Calafiori gets more ingrained.

Good option to have though… gives our left side that much needed life.

If Martinelli takes the chance off the MM pass and we get something from the game Merino's performance is probably viewed slightly differently.

Not hindsight but a CM three of Rice, Partey, MM was a poor selection.

 

[SA Gunner]

If Martinelli takes the chance off the MM pass and we get something from the game Merino's performance is probably viewed slightly differently.

Not hindsight but a CM three of Rice, Partey, MM was a poor selection.

Very workmanlike midfield yeah, and we almost forced a result with 10 men.

Lessons have been learnt from this game for sure, and it may not feel that way now, but we'll be stronger for this.

 

[Topside]

Very workmanlike midfield yeah, and we almost forced a result with 10 men.

Lessons have been learnt from this game for sure, and it may not feel that way now, but we'll be stronger for this.

I think even the two home games before the interlull of nations league football, we won home games in the end that look good on paper but we really made both harder than they should of been.

Even from min 1 last night, passive sideways football. I think Rice did ok apart from that we were poor all over the pitch.

 

[SA Gunner]

I think even the two home games before the interlull of nations league football, we won home games in the end that look good on paper but we really made both harder than they should of been.

Even from min 1 last night, passive sideways football. I think Rice did ok apart from that we were poor all over the pitch.

We've been too conservative yes, looking to be solid first and then using our other tools more. Its been our MO since MO has been gone.

Lets hope the management do something about our lack of central access, because they see it.