Mikel Merino has been pressed into service as a forward for Arsenal in recent weeks, and he's joked that he now deserves an 'attacker's contract' with the Gunners
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Mikel Merino has been on fine goalscoring form for Arsenal
Mikel Merino has been on fine goalscoring form for Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)
Mikel Merino wants a pay rise now he is playing up front for Arsenal. The Spanish midfielder has scored four goals - including the weekend winner against Chelsea - since shifting to play as a false nine last month following the injury to Kai Havertz.
After failing to sign Ollie Watkins in the January window, the Gunners will go back into the transfer market in the summer for a centre-forward And Italian Andrea Berta is set to be appointed as the new Arsenal sporting director to do the deals.
But asked if Arsenal no longer need a new striker because of his goals, the £27.4m signing said: “The question is for (Mikel) Arteta and the new sporting director."
When pushed on the potential arrival of Berta, who worked as a sporting director at Atletico Madrid, Merino added: "Andrea Berta? I don’t know if it is official and so I don’t know anything.”
The Spaniard then joked: “But I will do one thing: I will ask him for an attacker’s contract, they earn more and now I have two roles to play.”
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Bukayo Saka is in a race against time to recover from his December hamstring injury to face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final on April 8.
And former Real Sociedad star Merino told Gazzetta dello Sport: “It will be a really tough game. It is an historic challenge for us and we are very hungry.
"Until now we have played a great Champions League, both in the league phase and against PSV. Madrid historically feel at home in this competition. We do not lack confidence, we have to believe, we are on the way up.”
Mikel Merino has impressed since moving into attack
Mikel Merino has impressed since moving into attack
Defending champions Real have won the title a record 15 times. “They have a gift, they are able to live on the edge, stay calm in moments of chaos and difficulty,” Merino added.
“Experience counts, the mentality and maturity to know how to handle confusing situations and then strike. Mentally and physically they are very strong, in addition to having players of a very high technical level.”
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