Mikel Merino’s devastating hat-trick against Turkey showcased exactly why Arsenal invested £32.5 million in the Spanish midfielder – and highlighted the one tactical adjustment that could unlock his full potential at the Emirates.
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The Left 8 Liberation
If there is a ‘handbrake’ in this Arsenal side, one could easily perceive it to be in that ‘left 8’ position, according to tactical analysis. Merino’s international performance demonstrated his ability to arrive late in the box and finish clinically – precisely the threat Arsenal have been missing in that role.
Mikel Merino Arsenal Spain Turkey Hattrick
Mikel Merino (via Bleacher Report)
As a left-sided No.8 he will fit seamlessly alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in Arteta’s preferred 4-3-3 shape. From there, he can offer thrust and physicality in all phases as well as the ability to unlock defences as creator or penalty-box threat.
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The Simple Solution: Advanced Positioning
The tactical tweak is straightforward – allowing Merino to push higher up the pitch in Arsenal’s attacking phase, mirroring his role for Spain. His hat-trick came from intelligent movement into scoring positions, something Arsenal’s midfield has lacked.
The Arsenal midfielder scored a really nice hat-trick to make it 6 goals in his last 7 international appearances, a pretty hot streak for someone who had scored sparingly at club level previously.
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Physical Presence Meets Technical Ability
Mikel Merino is a left-footed midfielder renowned for his exceptional passing ability, tactical intelligence, and defensive tenacity. Standing at 6’2″, he possesses a commanding physical presence, which he combines with a refined technical skill set.
This combination becomes devastating when deployed correctly. His Spain performance showed how dangerous he becomes when given license to attack the box consistently rather than holding deeper positions.
Mikel Arteta Secret Weapon Liverpool Manchester City
Mikel Arteta (Via The Independent)
By simply instructing Merino to make more aggressive forward runs during Arsenal’s attacking transitions, Arteta could transform him from a solid squad player into an unstoppable goal threat.
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