Como manager and ex-Arsenal star Cesc Fàbregas has now heaped praise on Mikel Arteta following a key Gunners tactical tweak.
The Premier League frontrunners take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light later today, pitting Arteta's side against the surprise package of the season.
Arsenal arrive on Wearside in utterly imperious form. The north Londoners have won their last 10 matches across all competitions, with eight consecutive victories without conceding a single goal.
Arsenal's unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal
They're aiming to win five successive Premier League games without conceding for the first time since 1987, while their run of eight clean sheets in all competitions matches a club record set way back in 1903.
It's been nearly 13 hours of football since anyone has scored against them, which is quite simply unbelievable, and they of course boast the best defensive record in Europe's top five leagues as a result.
mikel-arteta-arsenal-premier-league
That being said, Regis Le Bris' side pose a tough challenge. Sunderland enter this game having defied all pre-season expectations spectacularly. They've accumulated 18 points from their opening 10 fixtures – the most any promoted side has managed at this stage since Hull City's 20 points in 2008-09.
Their remarkable home form has been key, remaining unbeaten at the Stadium of Light this campaign.
Arsenal are still favourites to win this one, though, following their imperious start to the season — which is made all the more impressive by their mountain of attacking injuries.
Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and captain Martin Odegaard are all unavailable with knee or muscular problems — even if Jesus returned to training this week — Meanwhile, striker Viktor Gyokeres has been ruled out with a potential hamstring injury until after the international break.
This leaves Arteta pretty short of forward options, with Mikel Merino likely to continue in an emergency striker role.
Arsenal Merino
Merino's second-half brace secured a 3-0 Champions League victory over Slavia Prague in midweek, adding to his very impressive tally of 11 goals in all competitions for Arsenal this calendar year.
The midfielder has been nothing short of inspirational when called upon to play an unfamiliar role by Arteta, and Fabregas is certainly impressed by the former Real Sociedad star.
Fabregas praises "great move" by Arteta to play Merino as Arsenal striker
Speaking in an interview with Calciomercato this week, Fabregas stated it was a "great move" by Arteta to play Merino as a striker once again in the absence of Gyokeres — claiming he's done very well in the role.
"This is a great move by Mikel, putting Merino up front, who has done really well up front," Fabregas said.
"They're an exceptional team right now, let's hope it can be a good year for them."
Merino had never played striker before featuring there for the first time against Leicester City back in February, where he scored both goals in Arsenal's 2-0 victory after replacing the injured Kai Havertz.
Arsenal-Mikel-Merino
Since then, he's excelled in the position.
The midfielder has netted an astonishing 19 goals for club and country combined in 2025, including his midweek brace against Slavia Prague that also took his Arsenal tally to three headed goals this season. His 6 foot 2 frame makes him a major aerial threat inside the area, while on the deck he's incredibly strong, using his muscular frame to dominate physical 50-50s.
"It's a joy to have him, I always say the same thing," Arteta said about Merino after the win in Prague.
"It's his versatility on the pitch, the things that he can do, it's his mindset, it's his leadership, it's the way he is as a person. Today we are missing a lot of attacking players, and we have to find different solutions, he comes in the Champions League and scores two goals."