Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised midfielder Mikel Merino for his crucial impact off the bench in the thrilling victory over Leicester City on Saturday.
The Gunners, lacking a natural striker, were on the verge of a disappointing draw before Merino’s brace turned the game around and secured all three points.
“We had faith in Mikel to bring something different, alongside Leo [Trossard] on the left, and… it was incredible,” Arteta said post-match. “You have to experiment to find solutions, and he delivered.
“When Kai got injured, we had to adapt. We analyzed the situation and they executed the plan perfectly. He possesses the attributes of a striker, reads the game well, times his runs effectively, and finishes with precision.”
Merino, who dedicated his goals to his wife for forgetting to buy her a Valentine’s Day gift, shared Arteta’s instructions upon entering the field.
“This morning, he instructed me to play as a striker,” revealed the Arsenal player. “We had discussed it with one of the assistants. It was a new role for me in my career.
“He advised me to focus on my strengths, and fortunately, I was able to contribute with two goals today.”