Quickly after Arsenal formally introduced the signing of Mikel Merino from Actual Sociedad for a payment that would attain $41 million, the Gunners have been dealt a blow. The Spanish worldwide picked up an harm this week in considered one of his first coaching periods, ruling him out till mid-September.
It’s a blow for Arsenal, however hopefully the shoulder harm isn’t a fracture. In that case, it might imply an extended wait till he makes his Arsenal debut.
When he’s prepared, Merino may have a big impression on Arsenal’s midfield. In spite of everything, earlier than signing him, Arsenal didn’t have a pure quantity eight of their squad. Sure, a crew that took the title race to the ultimate day didn’t have a pure central midfielder of their squad.
Nonetheless, Mikel Arteta has lastly received his man. There’s hope that Merino might lastly stabilize that left-hand aspect and doubtlessly unlock Gabriel Martinelli to play again to his greatest.
A Season of Tactical Changes in Midfield
Kai Havertz, Fabio Vieira, Emile Smith Rowe, and Leandro Trossard have all been utilized in that left ‘8’ place all through final season. But it surely was Declan Rice being the superior choice. Havertz was then shifted to striker, the place he ended the season sturdy and began this one in an identical vein.
The German was initially introduced in to switch Granit Xhaka, who himself had an illustrious season and have become an ‘Invincible’, however for Bayer Leverkusen.
Havertz struggled to adapt within the first a part of the season. He scored solely six objectives and a complete of zero assists in all competitions enjoying as a midfielder. Evaluate that to the eight objectives and 7 assists in solely 18 appearances because the central striker. A powerful return, all issues thought-about.
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This meant that Declan Rice needed to fill that left central midfield place. However this appeared to repay, with the Englishman hitting his highest objective and help tally in his profession (17).
Whether or not Declan Rice will shift again to the defensive midfielder place remains to be unsure, however all indicators recommend he’ll. Rice’s bodily attributes and Havertz’s technical expertise mirror the talent set that Mikel Merino provides in conjunction. A real box-to-box midfielder.
Mikel Merino and Arsenal can unleash Martinelli
Gabriel Martinelli had a troublesome season final 12 months. Saying he struggled is an understatement. The earlier season, he scored 15 non-penalty objectives, tying with Firmino for probably the most by a Brazilian within the Premier League. Final season, nonetheless, his objective tally dropped considerably to simply six.
A number of elements contributed to this decline, together with an absence of service, problem constructing a reference to the closest midfielder, and ultimately shedding his place to Trossard.
With Merino now within the left attacking zone, Martinelli may lastly kind a vital partnership, much like the one he had with Xhaka in 2022/23. The query is whether or not Merino can replicate that profitable connection.
As seen above, Xhaka liked to occupy that particular zone. He solely has one factor on his thoughts: discovering Martinelli. It could appear easy to play that by means of ball, however the weight of the move is intricate and allowed the Brazilian to create separation to attain. Merino has that capability to be simply as crucial within the ultimate third, as proven under.
You’ll rapidly discover from each photos that each gamers are scanning for the winger earlier than receiving the ball. Merino’s move was beautiful, which made the winger assault that left wing. Martinelli most likely missed that final season as a result of lack of time to create a relationship on the pitch with whoever is enjoying that place, whereas Xhaka was a mainstay.
The duel-winning machine
In the event you’ve watched the All or Nothing Amazon documentary on Arsenal, you’ll understand how a lot Arteta loves his duels. Or how a lot he dislikes when he loses them. The cameras caught him after Arsenal’s shock early exit to Nottingham Forest within the FA Cup in 2022, and he had lots to say within the altering room.
“After I lose a duel, I’m upset. After I lose the small-sided video games, I’m upset.”
Properly, his namesake loves them simply as a lot. Mikel Merino ranks the best variety of ‘duels gained’ in 2023/24 throughout Europe’s high seven leagues, and was the one participant to win greater than 300+ with 326 (Squakwa). The ‘duels gained’ stat measures how usually a participant efficiently wins bodily battles for the ball towards an opponent, whether or not it’s throughout tackles, aerial challenges, or 50/50 conditions.
Arsenal’s Mikel Merino just isn’t solely a technical genius however dominates his duels. This can be a uncommon mixture on your typical Spanish central midfielder. He brings a wealth of expertise from his time in Spain, the place he grew to become the captain of Actual Sociedad. So returning to play soccer in England is a full-circle second for him.
Following the official announcement of his signing, childhood images of Merino surfaced. They confirmed him in an Arsenal jersey from 2005, a 12 months after their final title win.
Now, almost twenty years later, Mikel Merino joins Arsenal to assist push them nearer to successful the title as soon as once more.
Photograph: IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
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