David Raya has suggested that Mikel Merino is unlikely to start up front for Arsenal despite his match-winning heroics off the bench last weekend. Injuries to several key attackers have left Mikel Arteta’s side bereft of options in the final third,

Five of Arsenal’s crosses came during the 69 minutes before Merino was on the pitch and only one of those was successful. That was because Declan Rice was able to get on the end of one, though, and not Trossard - who was playing as the No9 at that point.

Mikel Merino started Valentine’s weekend in the doghouse but finished it as the darling of Arsenal fans. Facing the heartache of dropped points against a team fighting relegation, Merino came off the bench to score twice and provide an answer to Mikel Arteta’s injury crisis in attack.

Mikel Merino was the unlikely hero for Arsenal on Saturday, as the Spanish midfielder jumped of the bench and scored twice as an emergency striker to give them a 2-0 win at Leicester City. With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out for the rest of the season and wingers Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka both out,

Arsenal: Mikel Arteta 'needs another Merino' as he ponders striker decision - Arteta seeking more unlikely heroes as he weighs up Mikel Merino move for West Ham clash

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Mikel Merino scored twice for Arsenal against Leicester on the weekend and got the Gunners out of a hole in their pursuit of the Premier League title

Shaka Hislop believes that Mikel Arteta should start midfielder Mikel Merino up front for Arsenal due to a lack of fit strikers.