Jamie Carragher was made to eat his own words by praising Arsenal star Mikel Merino, despite the fact that he focused on the improvised attacker earlier this season.
The Liverpool -legend previously criticized the £ 30 million signing of the Spaniard of Real Sociedad as a 'error'.
But he was full of praise for the 28-year-old before another insured display during Arsenal's 4-0 thrashing from Ipswich on Sunday.
Merino, who is a natural midfielder, has taken on an improvised pointed role this season with the forward line of Mikel Arteta hindered by injuries.
With Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli Fit, Merino fell back in his traditional midfield role on Portman Road and offered an assist for the visitor's second goal.
Merino was impressed by the Victorious Euro 2024 campaign from Spain, but Carragher was not convinced of his move in the beginning.
'Giving priority to signing midfielder Mikel Merino prior to another attacker last summer seems like a mistake. Merino is not a game changer, “he said.
But for the victory of Arsenal, who left them six points above the third placed Notttham Forest, Carragher revealed that he was blown away by the player he previously claimed that he should never have been signed.
“I just look at Merino, he has been a revelation since he took that pointed role,” he said at Sky Sports Super Sunday.
“I know he is deeper today, but in the last 13 games he has six goals and four assists.”
The former man from Newcastle has taken six goals and this season claimed two assists in 25 Premier League performances.
He also achieved two in the Champions League, including the third in Arsenal's sparkling 3-0 win over holders Real Madrid.
The Spaniard played this season as an emergency striker when the injuries of Arsenal piled up and he admitted that his new responsibility was 'a bit crazy'.
Merino scored a brace against Leicester in February and succeeded it with successive goals against London Rivals Chelsea and Fulham.
Although Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus remain offside, he is expected to return to his regular position with Saka and Martinelli now available.
A brace from Leandro Trossard Brace and goals by Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri saw Arsenal degrader on Sunday.
“Our first 35 minutes were exceptional, we scored two and could have scored more, but the shipping changed the game,” said Arteta.
“It was an opportunity to play some players who didn't play so much, so many positives this afternoon.”
The victory of the Gunners saw them at least a few more days delaying Liverpool's victory.
Arteta added: “The only thing we can do is postpone that moment and, for our side, earn the right to end as high as possible.”
They will be confronted with Crystal Palace tomorrow night for a crucial Champions League semi-final draw with PSG next week.
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