Arteta will be delighted to welcome back both Gyokeres and Brazilian Gabriel Jesus from injury as it gives him more options in attack. But there would not appear to be any guarantee that the big-money signing from Sweden will walk back into the team.
Gyokeres, who returned as a substitute at Chelsea after almost a month out with a hamstring problem, will need time to build up his fitness. In his absence, Arsenal’s attack has thrived with Merino through the middle.
The Gunners have scored 22 goals in the games that he has played as a forward this season. And they have scored 13 in the past five games he has played up front – with 11 coming from open play.
Arsenal have been criticised for their reliance on set-pieces this campaign. Merino seems to open another dimension in their attack.
He is a very different player to Gyokeres, who uses his power to burst between defenders and is always looking to run behind a backline.
Merino is a physical presence too, well over 6ft, but he looks to make space for his team-mates in a different way.
And seven of his 10 Premier League goals have been headers. Among all non-defenders with 10 or more goals in the competition’s history, only former Ipswich and Leicester striker James Scowcroft scored a higher ratio with his head (71% – 10 of his 14 top-flight goals, scored between 2000 and 2004).
Merino has started to drop deep into midfield to let the wingers and midfielders around him run into space, with Leandro Trossard’s opening goal in the 4-1 win against Tottenham on 23 November an example of this.
Eberechi Eze has benefited from this too – the England international has played his best football for Arsenal in the past few games, with a hat-trick against Spurs the standout moment.
Merino is a regular for his country in midfield – and at Arsenal, is considered one of the most tactically aware players in the squad.
He has already become part of the Arsenal leadership group.
“It’s always good to score goals.” Merino said. “The main thing is that it helps the team to earn a point or win games.
“Lately I’ve been playing a striker and I’m trying to move in the right areas so my team can find me.”
As part of the Arsenal makeshift frontman’s bid to improve, he has been asking team-mates for advice.
“The strikers that played for us last season, I tried to ask them if they can give me some tips about positioning in the box and staying on the right side of defenders,” he said.
“I try to take information from every game, every action, every striker I see on TV. That helps me.”
