Why Mikel Merino Should Start At Anfield

Arsenal face a difficult test on the weekend as they take on Liverpool away from home in the Premier League. A ground the Gunners have continually struggled to win at for a long time now with their last league victory coming in 2012, a 14 year run without a victory. 

A key factor in Arsenal winning the game this weekend is who they choose to start upfront. Kai Havertz has been the clear preferred choice over Viktor Gyökeres and has started all but one Premier League game this season. The German started the season strongly scoring in the Community Shield thrashing over Manchester City and scored in the first two games at the Emirates Stadium against Coventry and Chelsea. Since the return from the extended international break, he has struggled and Gyokeres has since come in more frequently and actually contributed. 

The Swedish international scored in Arsenal's Carabao Cup exit against Fleetwood Town on Tuesday and he assisted in their 2-0 win over Everton last weekend. He also assisted Declan Rice's sumptuous equaliser against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League the week before. The scoring department is still extremely light for Arsenal up top. Both strikers combined have scored four goals in all competitions which isn't good enough. Maybe Mikel Arteta needs to change things around up top and that's where Mikel Merino could come into the fold once again. 

The Spanish international has proven on multiple occasions that he can do a job for Arsenal in the striker role. He can drop deep and link up the play really effectively and when a big chances falls his way, he is clinical. With the game against Liverpool this weekend meaning so much, Arsenal need a striker who can deliver in big games and Merino has done that before. 

He scored the winning goal in Arsenal's 1-0 win over Chelsea in 2025. He then scored the equaliser against the Blues later in the year to seal a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Merino clinically curled a wonderful strike into the bottom corner during Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Real Madrid in the same year. He is also the last Arsenal player to score at Anfield when he poked home the rebound from Martin Ødegaard’s thunderous strike which rattled the crossbar. He scored in the reverse fixture against the Reds that season as well. 

A huge selection headache for Arteta this weekend but a decision which is crucial as the Gunners just need a point in Merseyside to fire them back to the top of the Premier League table after Manchester City were defeated by Brighton earlier on Saturday.