Arsenal completed the signing of Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad in August 2024. Mikel Arteta was clear about the 28-year-old Spaniard (now 29) was recruited to add physicality, aerial power and technical quality. Fresh from scoring a dramatic extra-time winner for Spain against Germany at Euro 2024, Merino looked the perfect “win-now” midfielder for a club chasing its first Premier League title in over two decades.
The Injuries Force Arteta’s Bold Experiment
Everything changed in early 2025. Kai Havertz (hamstring), Gabriel Jesus (recurring muscle issues) and even summer striker signing Viktor Gyökeres (minor knock) were all sidelined. With no natural centre-forward available, Arteta turned to the 6ft 2in Basque and asked him to lead the line. Few could have predicted what followed.
🗣️| Mikel Arteta on Mikel Merino’s role in the team: “It's curiosity and his will to learn and his will to help the team. He knew that we had a major problem from the beginning of the season. We lost Viktor, Kai was out and Gabriel Jesus was out. So we needed a solution.
“He… pic.twitter.com/nCJDHzhr1C
— Arsenal Buzz (@ArsenalBuzzCom) December 5, 2025
A Striker Is Born
Merino has been a revelation as a makeshift No. 9. By December 2025 he has scored 13 goals for club and country in the calendar year, including a hat-trick for Spain and four goals in his last six Arsenal appearances. His latest headline act came in the 2-0 win over Brentford on December 3: a towering header from Ben White’s cross followed by a perfectly weighted assist for Bukayo Saka in stoppage time.
Arteta’s Praise: “It’s Difficult to Put Limits on Him”
Post-match, Arteta was effusive: “His curiosity, his will to learn… it’s difficult to put limits to his development. He’s enjoying it and the team is grateful.” Merino’s hybrid false-nine role—dropping deep to link with Ødegaard, holding up play and arriving late in the box—has not only solved an injury crisis but added a new dimension to Arsenal’s attack.
What Happens When the Strikers Return?
With Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City heading into the festive period, the big question is whether Merino returns to being a perfect midfielder when Havertz and Gyökeres are fit. Arteta’s smile and cryptic “we’ll see” suggests the Spaniard may have earned a permanent role up top.
One thing is certain: Mikel Merino has become the symbol of Arsenal’s resilience—and Arteta’s tactical brilliance—in the 2025-26.
As featured on GoonerNews.com