Mikel Merino: Merchine

[Sammy1887]

He can’t be blamed for the last few weeks as he’s not a striker. My question is, what was the need for Merino beyond some absolute bullshit pseudo intellectual reason about ‘box crashing’. If he was any good at that in Spain, he’d be playing for Real or Barcelona, not Real Sociedad at 28.

If the market is £30 million for a backup midfielder, that’s a complete misuse of funds. Similar to Havertz who was brought as a midfielder and now never plays there.

Hopefully Berta sorts this ****show recruitment out.

We’ve spent 200M on that Left CM role and yet to find a decent replacement for Xhaka. Whose fault is that?

 

[Bloodbather]

He's been solid which is what the expectation should've been in the first place.

Gets scapegoated because we failed to sign players to other important positions, just like Cala. Neither of them have been bad and neither of them have looked like overpays.

I notice that he gets the same critiques no matter what he does. He was making all sorts of give-and-go connections against PSV and almost nobody gave him credit for it. Yesterday he put Martinelli right on goal with a great pass. But he's a "box crasher who does nothing else".

He gives us an option and brings depth which is good enough for 30M in this current market.

 

[BigPoppaPump]

Scott Steiner, where the hell are you, you roided up numpty. Come and stand trial. You are going down with your boy on a RICO charge. @BigPoppaPump

Merino was probably Arsenal’s best player against United, not sure why you’re scapegoating him here.

 

[High Elbow]

Came closer to creating a goal for them than he did for us

 

[Dennis_Bergkamp_10]

We have to keep him because Partey and Jorginho are probably leaving, but this guy would be next for me to leave. He's doing 'alright' as a striker which he clearly isn't, but him receiving the ball under pressure near our box is giving me heart palpitations.

Don't know what he brings to the table apart from duels and the occasional header.

 

[Sammy1887]

We have to keep him because Partey and Jorginho are probably leaving, but this guy would be next for me to leave. He's doing 'alright' as a striker which he clearly isn't, but him receiving the ball under pressure near our box is giving me heart palpitations.

Don't know what he brings to the table apart from duels and the occasional header.

He brings good vibes for Teta.

 

[ASAP Berg]

Nah he’s actually a good guy. One of the victims of our pitiful attacking options. I know people see 30m and go wow should be a star, but he’s a very solid player for that price.

Everytime I see him for Spain he’s very dynamic, he’s a real weapon in attacking zones.

 

[MartiSaka]

Nah he’s actually a good guy. One of the victims of our pitiful attacking options. I know people see 30m and go wow should be a star, but he’s a very solid player for that price.

Everytime I see him for Spain he’s very dynamic, he’s a real weapon in attacking zones.

For spain maybe, but yet to see it for Arsenal. Makes me highly sketical about Zubimendi (wrongly or rightly) after the talk about how transformative Merino would be on the left in the summer threads.

 

[BigPoppaPump]

He's been solid which is what the expectation should've been in the first place.

Gets scapegoated because we failed to sign players to other important positions, just like Cala. Neither of them have been bad and neither of them have looked like overpays.

I notice that he gets the same critiques no matter what he does. He was making all sorts of give-and-go connections against PSV and almost nobody gave him credit for it. Yesterday he put Martinelli right on goal with a great pass. But he's a "box crasher who does nothing else".

He gives us an option and brings depth which is good enough for 30M in this current market.

People just judge players based on agenda, especially on this forum. No matter how Merino plays they'll come with the same criticisms that don't even apply to him as you said here.

It's all a popularity contest realy, if it was a player they like that had the same performances they'd praise him. You can't take any of it seriously.

 

[Batman]

Nah he’s actually a good guy. One of the victims of our pitiful attacking options. I know people see 30m and go wow should be a star, but he’s a very solid player for that price.

Everytime I see him for Spain he’s very dynamic, he’s a real weapon in attacking zones.

He may have been an ok buy in isolation but he looks awful in the context of what we needed in terms of squad building and what we chose to address. I have absolutely no doubt that 30m spent on a guy who is a natural 9, even if a very average one would have benefitted us far more this season than Merino has. It's unfortunate be we can't take that context away when judging him as a signing.

 

[fute]

He has earned his respect with his play.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

I can't fault this guy he trying all he could here but he really can't be starting CF when Saka back after the break need to get this Martinelli guy play as CF or Trossard.

Great header today not sure if he mean it

 

[EmeryCouldnt]

Nice headed and nice volley. Winning aerial duels in the midfield consistently. Otherwise anonymous and terrible movement for a striker. Not his fault, just frustrating that Arteta persists with him and won’t give Butler a sniff even in a dead game or atleast try Trossard - Martinelli - Nwaneri… atleast Martinelli would stretch defenses and create space with movement.

 

[BBF]

Four in his last Seven appearances. Basically Havertz numbers without the 300k a week.

 

[ArsenesCoatMaker]

Has he already got more headed goals for us than Henry?

 

[goonerfamily]

Not a huge fan of the player but have to say, he's done a good shift at CF, all things considered.

 

[goonerfamily]

(I've often thought he looked like Giroud, if he was played in midfield)

 

[Rain Dance]

great header

 

[grange]

You know what's coming

 

[HattoriHanzo]

Nice headed and nice volley. Winning aerial duels in the midfield consistently. Otherwise anonymous and terrible movement for a striker. Not his fault, just frustrating that Arteta persists with him and won’t give Butler a sniff even in a dead game or atleast try Trossard - Martinelli - Nwaneri… atleast Martinelli would stretch defenses and create space with movement.

Maybe because he is midfielder?
Arsenal doesn't have proper striker, Havertz, G. Jesus, Trossard are not proper strikers.