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The Spanish midfielder has been utilised as a makeshift striker on more than one occasion by Arsenal since his 2024 transfer to the Emirates Stadium.

When Arsenal decided to spend £31 million to sign Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad following Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, the club believed they were bringing in one of the most complete midfielders in world football.

The Basque playmaker arrived in North London at the peak of his career, celebrated for his technical ability, tactical awareness, and control over the tempo of a match from midfield.

Arsenal viewed him as one of the final components needed to complete a title-winning squad, though the plan never involved deploying him as a Premier League centre-forward.

With such a well-rounded skill set, Merino has become a manager’s dream player—especially under Mikel Arteta, a coach known for his innovative approach.

“The gaffer is special in how he expresses his ideas and passion,” Merino told FourFourTwo. “It’s been an incredible two seasons here. I’ve learned a lot from Mikel. He’s opened new tactical doors for me.”

One of those new experiences came when Arteta unexpectedly asked him to play up front—a position he had never previously occupied. “It happened for the first time in February last year when we went to Dubai for a short warm-weather camp,” he recalled. “We had a couple of unlucky injuries, and when we got back, there weren’t many options available.”

“I saw on social media that I was going to play as a striker in our next game against Leicester. Honestly, I was laughing, thinking, ‘How can people come up with this stuff?’ I had never played there and didn’t expect to. But then, before the game, one of the coaches approached me and said, ‘We’ve got this idea—you’ll play as the most advanced midfielder, not really a striker, so don’t overthink it.’”

That experiment turned into a remarkable success. “That’s how it happened. I came on with 20 minutes to go; we needed a goal, and I scored twice. The rest is history,” Merino said with a smile.

What started as a necessity soon became a tactical option. “I think I’ve got the qualities to be an effective striker,” he explained. “I’m not the fastest to run in behind defenders, but I understand positioning in the box. It’s about reading the right moments—I pick up those signals quickly and move accordingly.”

Between November and December, Merino contributed two goals and three assists in five Premier League matches while leading the line, before returning to midfield when Viktor Gyokeres recovered from injury. However, a foot injury sidelined him in late January, eventually requiring surgery.

“The injury period was mentally tough because it was such a rare issue that even the specialists struggled to diagnose it,” said the former Borussia Dortmund player. “I was worried about missing the World Cup. Luckily, I’m feeling much better now.”

Merino made his comeback as a substitute during Arsenal’s title-clinching match at Selhurst Park on the final day of the season, securing his place in Spain’s plans under coach Luis de la Fuente for the summer campaign.

During World Cup qualifying, Merino found the net six times in six matches, including a hat-trick in Spain’s 6–0 victory over Turkey. “That game felt like everything I touched turned into something dangerous,” he said. “Even short passes led to counter-attacks. I suppose those spells as a striker at Arsenal have helped me refine my finishing instincts inside the box.”

— Ed McCambridge, Staff Writer