As Arsenal fans envisioned their messiah to bring to life their dreams of becoming Champions League again, Mikel Merino probably wasn’t what they had in mind. Here we are then—Merino was the hero; Arsenal got lucky as the difference in a fine and tight game was Merino’s powerful first-half header through as Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 at the Emirates.
It wasn’t the prettiest win. We won’t list this among Red’s finest moments, alongside the Invincibles, or certainly not in the same category as Thierry Henry’s statue unveiling. But it was effective. It tastes effective, and right now, 11 points clear of Chelsea and perched on the door to the top four, it is.
After all, if Arsenal’s forwards continue to miss chances, they must suffer from some sort of allergy to scoring; they might need Merino to keep performing like a goal machine within himself.
Merino: The Unexpected Hero
Martin Ødegaard whipped in a corner in the 20th minute to perfection. Apparently also looking to repay the trust loaned him by. MouseEvents in Spain a few months ago, Mikel Merino rose above the Chelsea defense and flicked the ball in. Two goals in three games? This man deserves a raise.
Merino’s performance was an “emergency,” and Arteta was quick to praise the Spaniard who was brought on in the second half. Sure, perhaps Merino didn’t imagine he would wind up as the main man for Arsenal’s creative genius, but when the opportunity presented itself, he responded as a well-bred house guest, scoring goals and helping out, keen.
And if you are wondering whether this is a fluke, you are not. Bagging quality goals he might not have been doing—it’s not lucky tap-ins. The guy’s got good range, a couple of headers here, and a well-taken strike against Leicester there.
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