Arsenal left it late on Saturday to secure a 2-0 victory over Leicester City courtesy of a brace from Mikel Merino, keeping the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table as a result.
The Gunners were without some of their regular strikers due to crippling injuries, and manager Mikel Arteta was forced to introduce the Spaniard and play him as a number 9 against the Foxes.
Merino proved his mettle after replacing Raheem Sterling in the 69th minute, scoring in the 81st and 87th minutes to hand Arsenal crucial three points, and BBC pundit Troy Deeney was blown away, including the summer signing in his Team of the Week.
“Merino shouldn’t really get in my team of the week,” the former striker wrote.
“But to come on and have the impact he had on that game at Leicester was absolutely massive.
“So I’m kind of breaking my own rule and giving a sub a place in my team.”
The 28-year-old used his aerial strength to open the scoring with a fine header before a well-taken goal minutes later, and Arsenal could have struggled to score without him on the pitch.
The North Londoners remain without Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz going forward and while Leandro Trossard started the Leicester game as a number 9, Arteta could look to continue playing Merino as a makeshift centre-forward for the time being given his impressive performance at the weekend.
Failure to bolster their attack during the January transfer window appears to be a huge mistake, but Arsenal found a way to win against the Foxes and must do so when they take on West Ham United, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Chelsea before the international break next month.
Both Saka and Martinelli could be back in action after the break, but the Gunners need to win their next four league games before then if they want to remain in the title race, and Merino will be hoping he can help out.
