Arsenal legend Ian Wright has backed midfielder Mikel Merino to score the winning goal against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday.
The Gunners progressed to their second final ever in the elite European competition after a 2-1 aggregate win over Atletico Madrid. They now face a stern challenge against the reigning champions.
PSG are widely regarded as favourites to secure back-to-back European crowns, and Merino acknowledges that Les Parisiens are an ‘unbelievable team’.
However, the £31.6 million signing added that the Gunners are equally good and hopefully the club will be on the right end to celeberate a maiden Champions League title.
He said on The Overlap: “We know it is going to be a very tough game, PSG is an unbelievable team, but we know we are as well. It is going to be a tough one, a close one, and hopefully it is going to be on our side.”
In response, Gunners favourite Wright joked that he is getting ‘good winning-goal energy’ from Merino, and backed the midfielder to score the winner against Les Parisiens after a lengthy break of more than three months due to foot surgery.
Wright added: “I get good winning-goal energy from you at the moment. I can feel a story now, Mikel. You have been injured, you have just come back at the end there and bam, winning goal. You heard it here first.”
Merino built his reputation with the Gunners last season, having arrived from Real Sociedad. He played as a makeshift striker for almost three months after Kai Havertz sustained a hamstring injury in February.
The 29-year-old ended his debut campaign with 14 goal contributions, which included nine goals. Despite an injury-plagued second year, Merino has already managed nine goal involvements thus far.
The Spaniard scored a memorable headed equaliser at Newcastle United before Gabriel Magalhaes bagged the eventual winner. Merino was tasked to play as a striker between late November and early December due to an injury crisis and made his mark with two goals and three assists.
With Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Jesus fully fit, Merino won’t be leading the line for the Gunners. However, he could yet have a big say in the final if Arsenal are level in the closing stages. Merino has the knack for scoring clutch goals from set-pieces and could well make the headlines on Saturday.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com