Mikel Merino has embraced his unexpected role as Arsenal’s centre-forward, admitting he is “getting a taste” for leading the line after being deployed there due to the club’s injury crisis.
With Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Bukayo Saka sidelined, Merino has stepped up as the team’s go-to No 9. His adaptation to the role has been swift, scoring twice against Leicester City in his first outing as a striker before netting the winner against Chelsea.
Merino’s transition from midfield to attack began during Arsenal’s training camp in Dubai. The Spaniard was unaware of the switch until hours before kickoff against Leicester, a decision he believes was intentional.
“They know I want to know why we do things, exactly what movements to make, to not make, everything,” Merino told The Guardian. “If they told me sooner, I would have been thinking too much. Instead, they told me late, I didn’t think much, I went out, I flowed, I scored two.”
Despite his unfamiliarity with the role, Merino’s versatility has made the adjustment smoother. “I’ve been a left‑sided centre-back. At Dortmund, I played there in a three and in a back four in the Spain Under-21s. I’ve played as a No 6, a No 8, a No 10. As a kid, I played on the right wing, and now I’m playing here,” he said.
The 28-year-old admitted he is beginning to enjoy the physical battles that come with the role. “I’m getting used to being a centre-forward, fighting with the centre-backs, them hitting you from behind,” he said. “It’s more mental than midfield because it’s a more direct duel. But I’m adapting. If there’s one thing I’ve always been, it’s a battler — I like the contact, I never back down.”
Merino also sees his job as more than just scoring goals. “I’ve put the X here, a bit further back, because that’s my role — not just as a No 9, but as a player. My job has always been to facilitate others.”
Arsenal’s injury problems have forced tactical adjustments, but Merino’s performances have raised questions about whether the club truly needs to sign another striker. When asked about his long-term future in the role, he laughed. “That’s a question for Mikel [Arteta] and the new sporting director.”