Arteta’s call to push Mikel Merino into the starting XI against Man City has split opinion among fans and pundits alike.
Starting Merino against Man City backfired
Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City had no shortage of drama. But, the loudest debate came from Mikel Arteta’s choice to hand Merino a starting role in midfield.
With Martin Odegaard unavailable, the Spaniard was trusted as the creative hub in the number ten slot. But, it simply didn’t click. Merino looked uncomfortable and struggled to keep tempo against City’s press. Football London even dished out a 5/10 rating, underlining how far off he was from dictating play.
City’s opener through Haaland came while Arsenal were chasing shadows. For much of the first half, they looked short of ideas in the final third. By half-time, Arteta had no option but to roll the dice, pulling Merino and shifting his system.
Impact from the bench
The changes were instant. Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze came on in the second half. They pulled City’s backline out of shape. Even Martinelli, brought in late, made a great impact by scoring the equaliser.
That moment alone showed what Arteta had missed from the start. The irony is that Arsenal’s bench players had to bail out a line-up that lacked spark from the opening whistle. It’s not to say Merino can’t deliver in other roles but forcing him into the playmaker role felt more like a patch-up job. He’s already been shifted across different positions since arriving. If Arsenal are serious about trophies, these tactical risks can’t keep backfiring.
Author’s Opinion:
Merino is a talented squad player. But, throwing him in as a no.10 against City was never going to work. Arteta has to play his strongest attackers from the off in big games. That will likely workout for the Gunners from the start.
