Gabriel Martinelli may have grabbed the headlines with his hat-trick at Portsmouth, but Mikel Merino’s composed display at the base of Arsenal’s midfield also deserved its share of praise.
Since arriving from Real Sociedad, the Spaniard has largely been deployed further forward – as a left-sided number eight and, during an injury-hit spell for the forwards, as an effective auxiliary number nine. At Fratton Park, however, with Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice rested and Christian Norgaard filling in at centre-back, Merino once again showcased his versatility, this time anchoring midfield.
Handed the captain’s armband, he also took responsibility in front of the media, outlining Arsenal’s determination to end a trophy drought that stretches back to 2020.
“Every game matters. It doesn’t matter if it’s Carabao, FA [Cup], a friendly, it’s not only about the competition we play, we play for the badge, we’re playing for our reputation and every game we wear this shirt, we have to do our best, we have to win, and we have to put on a good performance.
“The main thing is to show that we are Arsenal, that we are ready to compete every single time and the rest will take care of itself.”
He added, “Winning every game is the end goal. We have to focus on doing our best, that’s the main thing for us, and when we do our best, we know we are going to be close to winning every game.
“The hunger is there [to win silverware], and has been there for a long time, sometimes it’s a matter of details, a matter of situations, of moments, that doesn’t let you win, but the hunger, you can see it every training session and will be there until the end of the season.”
With fixtures piling up across four competitions in January, Merino knows the depth of the squad will soon be tested. Mikel Arteta made ten changes from the side that drew with Liverpool, and it took time for those alterations to settle. After falling behind early, though, Arsenal responded well and could easily have won by more than the eventual 4–1 scoreline.
“When you make so many changes, sometimes it can be tricky because you are not used to be playing with each other and those connections are very, very important,” reflected Merino.
“You saw a team full of quality, a team full of attitude and hard work, and that’s the good thing.
“Everyone is going to be important in the end of the season, and we’ll have to be ready on our toes because games come thick and fast and you never know when it’s going to be your time.”
With Kai Havertz making his long-awaited return from a second long-term injury in quick succession, it may well be the end of Merino’s stint up front. In theory, the Spaniard has dropped to fourth in the pecking order, with Gabriel Jesus and Viktor Gyokeres also competing for minutes.
Not that he seems to mind. Like Arteta, Merino was delighted to see Havertz back on the pitch.
“Amazing, amazing – we’re all buzzing for him. To come back after a big, big injury, to have him around is so good for everyone, for the atmosphere in the training ground,” Merino said.
“The support he gives us in the training ground, having him around every training session, and now having him on the pitch is one more asset, one more tool for the coach. Really happy for him.”