Mikel Merino’s remarkable run of form as a striker for Arsenal means it has been easy to forget that he is actually a midfielder.
Merino has been one of the Gunners’ standout performers since being deployed as an emergency No9 at the start of February and no more so was that the case than against Real Madrid.
Across both legs of the Champions League quarter-final, he was involved in all three Arsenal goals from open play – scoring one and assisting the other two.
But the Spaniard could find himself back in midfield for the first leg of the semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain next week.
Thomas Partey is suspended for that game at Emirates Stadium and, with Jorginho a doubt due to a rib injury, Mikel Arteta may be forced to shift Declan Rice to the base of midfield.
The knock-on impact of that is likely to be Merino moving to the No8 role on the left of midfield, which Rice has made his own over the past year.
Leandro Trossard could then be brought into the team to lead the line and he excelled in that role against Ipswich on Sunday.
The Belgian scored twice as Arsenal ran out 4-0 winners at Portman Road and the way Arteta set up his midfield and attack felt like a dry run for the first leg against PSG.
Trossard was named man of the match, but Merino caught the eye as well in a timely reminder of what he can offer Arsenal in midfield.
Merino dovetailed with Trossard and the pair’s movement caused Ipswich so many problems.
For Arsenal’s second goal, Trossard pulled out to the right flank and started a move that led to Bukayo Saka firing in a cross. Merino burst into the area, exploiting the space created by Trossard, and it was his deft flick that Gabriel Martinelli turned home at the back post.
Trossard and Merino summed up Arsenal’s fluid approach and they consequently had more weapons in attack.
When Arsenal wanted to go direct, for example, Merino and Trossard would simply switch positions so that the Gunners had a focal point to aim at when playing long balls.
Coaches at Arsenal view Merino as a student of the game, and the way he has learned to play as a striker justifies them doing so, but the 28-year-old is a huge asset due to his physical presence.
Before joining Arsenal he was known as a ‘duel monster’, and the reasons why were on show at Ipswich.
Merino won four tackles, which was more than any other player on the pitch. He was also top for aerial duels by winning three. And all that was despite him coming off in the 57th minute.
“That (midfield) is where he’s played his whole career,” said Arteta. “But obviously we have a very short memory sometimes and we see him as a No9 and it was almost strange to see him in midfield. I think he did really well.
If Merino is used in midfield against PSG, he will have a big role to play as Arsenal got joy against the French champions earlier this season by being physical.
The Gunners bullied Luis Enrique’s young side and, if they want to do the same again, then no one is better at executing that plan than Merino.
It was actually against PSG in October, when Arsenal won 2-0, that Merino made his debut for Arsenal.
His start to life in north London was derailed after he suffered a shoulder injury during his first training session, forcing him to wait for his debut.
Merino took a while to get up to speed after that, with the fact he had no pre-season after helping Spain win Euro 2024 a factor.
But he is hitting his stride now and starting to show everyone why Arsenal paid around £30million to sign him last summer.
