OneFootball
·18 Maret 2025
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·18 Maret 2025
Arsenal's struggles in front of goal this season have been exacerbated by the lack of a striker and natural finisher.
Injuries to Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus have only made matters worse in the second half of the season, but there is one man Mikel Arteta has been able to call upon in their absence.
Enter, Mikel Merino.
The 28-year-old was signed as a midfielder in the summer transfer window, but has been asked to fill in at centre-forward in recent weeks.
He has now scored four goals in his seven appearances as a striker, including the winner in a crucial Premier League victory Chelsea on Sunday, heading home Martin Ødegaard's cross from a corner.
The victory put Arsenal within 12 points of league leaders Liverpool with nine games to go, and while Arteta will need to address the centre-forward position in the upcoming transfer window, Merino is currently their biggest goal threat.
📸 Alex Pantling - 2025 Getty Images