Despite his two-goal heroics as a substitute striker, Mikel Merino doesn’t think he will be used as a regular No 9 for Arsenal.
The Spaniard came on in the 69th minute to go up front at Leicester City with the match goalless and Arsenal in need of a win to maintain the pressure on leaders Liverpool.
He later admitted he had not played up front since he was nine but that was no issue for Merino, who headed Arsenal in front on 81 minutes from Ethan Nwaneri’s cross before claiming a second six minutes later with a first-time finish from Leandro Trossard’s centre to seal the win.
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It was his first brace since netting twice for Osasuna against Gimnastic in the Segunda Division playoffs in June 2016. But when asked if his impact would earn him a starting spot up front for Arsenal, Merino was sceptical.
“I don't think so to be honest,” he told TNT Sports. “It is the first time I have scored a brace coming off the bench as a striker.
"He [manager Mikel Arteta] told me to come in as a striker this morning. We were talking about it a little bit with one of the assistants. It is the first time in my career that I've played that position.
"He told me to go with my strengths and luckily I could help the team with two goals today."
However, Arteta suggested that his Spanish compatriot has qualities to play up front. "He has a sense of danger and great timing in the box," Arteta said. "We were on the verge of about to get to a different level of anxiety. We were composed, scored two brilliant goals and could have scored one or two more."
Valentine's present for wife
Having been focused yesterday on preparing for the match, Merino dedicated his goals to his wife.
"I forgot to give my wife something for Valentine's Day so this goes to her,” he said. “I think she will appreciate this more than a rose and some chocolate.
"Today was a tough game. But I think these games are the ones you need the spirit. Games like today are really good for the squad."
Michael Owen, who is ranked 11th in the Premier League all-time scoring charts with 150 goals, was impressed with how Merino took his second. “The ball bounces right in front of him but he keeps his knee over the ball and keeps it down,” Owen said. “He makes it look a simple finish, which it was not.”
Former Premier League defender Curtis Davies called Merino a hidden gem.
“The finish is brilliant," Davies said. "Merino holding his line at the right time and he just gets on to it. Arsenal don't have a recognised striker but with Merino in this kind of form, who needs one?”
Nwaneri 'Messi-like'
Merino’s first goal meant Nwaneri registered his first Premier League assist. The 17-year-old was Arsenal’s biggest threat, hitting the woodwork twice, until Merino came on.
"He is an amazing player,” Merino said. “Every time I do an interview you guys ask me about him.
"We have to keep the foot on the gas and if we keep doing this job then good things will come in the future."
Arteta joined the praise. "Every time he was on the ball he made things happen," said the manager. "He had another level of threat than the rest of the team.”
Joe Cole even went as far as to compare Nwaneri to Lionel Messi.
"These little touches in and around the box - I don't even want to say it, but it's like Lionel Messi,” he told TNT Sports.
“I don't want to put any more pressure on him, but the touches off the back foot entices the defender, then the touch off the toe to send him off balance. He plays with such confidence, a beautiful player.”
