Few would have believed it earlier this season when there were questions about the wisdom to sign him, but Mikel Merino is facing Paris Saint-Germain this week as one of the most important players of Arsenal's hope to reach the Champions League final.
The 28-year-old excelled since he was set by Mikel Arteta in the front and offers six goals and four assists in 13 games, his best displays that came to Real Madrid in the last victory, when he scored in the first stage and set both goals in the second goals. The news about his return to training this week comes like a big boost.
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka took the most compliments at the Bernabeu, but Merino was just as good, his contribution rewarded his manager's faith and cried conversations with some of those who worked with him in Boyhood Club Osasuna.
“He never hides and is willing to confront difficult situations,” Alfredo Sanchez, a former coach, told Sky Sports in August. “He is a boy who doesn't feel busy and has the personality to perform in important games,” added Miguel Flano, a former teammate.
Merino's hunger to the large occasions will be needed on Tuesday against Paris Saint-Germain, even if this time his assignment is delivered with a different set of tactical instructions.
The suspension of Thomas Partey means that he might be needed in midfield instead of at the front, where Leandro Trossard, scorer of four goals in his last four Premier League matches, will probably start.
Fortunately for Arsenal Merino has recently excel in both roles, even when he plays nominal as a striker. His heat cards for his last 10 starts show how his positioning varies from game to game, which reflects the all -round offer that is tactically useful for him.
In the first stage against Real Madrid, when Arsenal dominated, the most Merino activity came in the last third and opposition box. In the second, when they spent long spells, he fell into the low block, usually in his own half, but still made a decisive contribution in the form of his two assists.
His tactical intelligence helped to convince Arteta about his potential to thrive as an improvised striker when Kai Havertz sustained his injury. “If someone can adapt to a different position, it is he,” he said in February. To quote his old teammate Flano: “He also has the humility to understand what each game requires”.
It all comes down to a rare level of adaptability and versatility, making Merino a weapon in a multitude of different scenarios, from game to game but also within games.
His displays in the front have demonstrated his ability to act as a focal point and a tie of the punishment, but he can be just as dangerous to make late runs from midfield.
His goal in the 3-0 win over Real Madrid combined both elements. Before Merino sweeps the pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly past Thibaut Courtois from the Courtois, Merino could be seen combining with Pedey in the center circle and then turned rice and released before he continued his run.
The unpredictability of Merino movement caused Real Madrid problems and it can even be the key in another role on Tuesday, especially since Paris Saint-Germain has already viewed this season in Arsenal with them in the competition phase, when they were defeated 2-0 in the Emirates Stadium in October.
The side of Luis Enrique is now stronger, with Ousmane Dembele who goes into the middle of their front and January and signs Khvicha Kvaratskhelia that is installed on the right. But midfield is probably comparable to the use of that and that is where Merino can help.
In Vitinha, Paris Saint-Germain has an excellent technician in the No. 6 roll, but Arsenal won the physical struggle in the latter meeting and the added presence of Merino, which only appeared that night as a replacement, would improve a considerable lead.
The Spain International was partially signed for his duel-winning bravery and he shone through since his arrival in England. Merino wins more duels and more antennas than any other Arsenal player.
The rescheduling of midfield that is required in the absence of Partey will probably be moved from No. 8 to no. 6, giving him less opportunity to make the looting runs that have become a characteristic of the Arsenal game. But Merino, although not so fast, brings even more energy into the role.
Premier League tracking data shows that he covers more land than any other Arsenal player at 12.17 km per 90 minutes. It is about a kilometer more than rice, making it top of teammates and in the top 10 of all Premier League players.
His physicality can be invaluable in the opposition box and in the midfield fight. Set-Pieces, an area of ​​formidable strength for Arsenaal, are one of weakness for Paris Saint-Germain, whose total of 15 goals from Dead-Ball situations is the 12th highest in the most important competitions in Europe.
Merino is perhaps the best hope of Arsenal to capitalize. His total of 2.95 expected goals of SET pieces is the third highest in the Premier League, behind only that of his wounded Arsenal teammate Gabriel Magalhaes and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
It is a still impressive figure, since this season he played less than half of the minutes of Arsenal. With 0.19 expected goals of set pieces per 90 minutes, it is actually at the top of the division.
It is just another area in which Merino could be decisive against Paris Saint-Germain, because he was against Real Madrid. Tuesday's match is another chance for him to show his new interest while Arsenal continues their bid on the success of Champions League.