Mikel Merino revealed that it was a big surprise to be asked to fill in as the emergency striker of Arsenal in Saturday's 2-0 win over Leicester City in the Premier League.
After losing Kai Havertz to a seasonal injury, and with Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka, Mikel Arteta also chose the offside to start without a recognized striker against the foxes.
Leandro Trossard started the game at the top of the Gunners attack, with Raheem Sterling and the impressive Ethan Nwaneri both sides of the Belgian attacker.
With Arsenal at the point of dropping two valuable points in their search to catch Liverpool at the top of the rankings, Merino came out of the couch to hit twice.
Merino was indeed the first Arsenal player who scored twice as a replacement in a Premier League match since Martinelli against Crystal Palace in January 2024 and the first to do this since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang against Fulham in Craven Cottage in October 2018.
Four of the five top goals of the Spaniard have brought his side one goal in the lead, including three of his four strikes for Arsenal this period, although his last could turn out to be his most crucial.
“He [Arteta] Told me that I would come in as a striker: “Merino told TNT Sports.” This morning we talked a bit about one of the assistants.
“To be honest, it was a surprise because this is the first time in my career that I played in that position.
“He said that I had to go as a striker, make sure I would go with my strengths, luckily I could help the team with two goals today.”
Merino also devoted his late double to his wife as a late Valentine's Day gift.
“I don't know. I don't think so to be honest. It's funny because I only scored two more brackets in my career,” Merino added when he was asked if he would appear as a striker for the near future .
“It's the first time I scored two of the bank, as a striker, but I think it's a good day to score today.
“I forgot to give my wife something for Valentine's Day, so this goes to her. I think she will appreciate this more than a rose or some chocolates!”
In the result, Arsenal went within four points of leaders Liverpool, who hire Wolves in Anfield on Sunday.
Arsenal also expanded their undefeated run to 15 games in the Premier League (W10 D5), their longest run without defeat since 16 games between December 2010 and April 2011 under Arsene Wenger.
“This is a long, long season. We have talked about it since the beginning. This is a long term. We have to keep our foot on gas,” concluded Merino.
“I think if we continue to do this work, every game is busy, good things will come in the future.”
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– Arsenal (@ARSENAL) February 15, 2025
In the meantime, for Leicester, they stay within the lower three of the table after a new late collapse after their defeat in the FA Cup to Manchester United last week.
The Foxes have now lost nine of their last 10 Premier League matches (W1), and are going to hold 18 games without having a clean slate since a 1-0 victory against Bournemouth in October.
But Ruud van Nistelrooy was satisfied with some aspects of the performance, and emphasized some of the opportunities he had before Merino opened the score in the meeting.
He quoted a chance eight minutes before Arsenal was in the front, with Myles Lewis-Skelly who produced a brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny Bobby de Cordova-Reid a slap.
“Thin margins. The chance of Bobby only by Lewis-Skelly, you can get up with a game in a goal. That makes it difficult,” Van Nistorrooy told TNT Sports.
“We did what we could do for all parts of the game. Playing and playing at certain moments when we could. We didn't really look long.
“Two chances of Ndidi with the header and the volley. You need some luck to get a goal and go to one side like this.
“The players know and are disappointed that we could not get anything from the game.
“Arsenal fights for the title, so we know if we will continue to do this kind of performance, then you will eventually win games and pick up points.”
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