The Arsenal striker crisis of 2025 has pushed Mikel Merino into a spotlight few saw coming, taking on the role of an emergency forward. As an Arsenal fan, it’s hard for me to remember a time when we didn’t have a striker ready to go. Way back in January 2000, I remember us facing Old Trafford with Freddie Ljungberg stepping up as a second striker because Kanu was at AFCON, Suker was sidelined by a suspension, and Bergkamp was out with an injury. Thankfully, Thierry Henry was still in form, but the challenge was finding his partner in the classic 4-4-2 setup.
Fast forward to January 2004, when Arsene Wenger chose to give Henry a much-needed rest during a series of cup matches against Middlesbrough. With injuries to both Wiltord and Kanu, the question was who would pair with Dennis Bergkamp. Ultimately, Ljungberg and Pires took turns as makeshift strikers in a style reminiscent of false nines. With Gabriel Martinelli making a return to the lineup, I’d lean towards a similar strategy, with Martinelli and Trossard switching roles between the left-wing and the central forward position.
Currently, the injury woes extend beyond just the strikers, with both Saka and Martinelli sidelined. Who could have imagined a Champions League match with Sterling, Merino, and Tierney leading the attack? It seemed improbable just weeks ago. If I had my way, I’d go with a rotation of Martinelli and Trossard swapping between the left and center.
Merino found himself leading the line primarily because he’s built similarly to Kai Havertz and shares a knack for winning duels. Additionally, playing him up front doesn’t disrupt other parts of the team since he doesn’t have a cemented role elsewhere yet. The challenge is that, understandably, Merino lacks the instinctual on-ball capabilities—knowing when to break into channels or link with the wings—that Havertz excels at. Against PSV on Wednesday, Merino’s contribution was significant. He won a crucial header from a long Raya pass, setting up Zinchenko’s goal, a move I’m sure Mikel Arteta values.
Since his impressive bench performance with two goals against Leicester, Merino’s direct threat in front of the goal hasn’t been as consistent. His scoring from deeper positions or entering the box late has been more notable. His goals against Leicester reminded me of a traditional attacking midfielder’s style. His first goal fit the mold of how I see him scoring in his more natural position, while the second was classic counter-play. Interestingly, Merino’s average expected goals (XG) per 90 minutes this season sits at 0.24. In his recent five appearances up front, it dipped to 0.14 per 90, highlighting a dip in personal scoring opportunities.
Despite this, part of Merino’s role is to enable others to shine. Recently, Arsenal’s full-backs have been notably more offensive, particularly when Riccardo Calafiori is in the mix. Calafiori often takes a loose, improvisational approach, exploring the opponent’s half with freedom. His recent performances have him taking shots every 48 minutes, while Merino averages one every 69 minutes over the same timeframe. This aggressive stance isn’t limited to Calafiori but includes other players venturing forward around and beyond Merino.
Declan Rice’s recent scoring spree—netting goals in his last two matches—is no accident. Watching Arsenal’s 7-1 thrashing of PSV, I noticed how often Rice found himself more advanced during key moments. This changing role might be Arsenal’s response to their striker dilemma. Rice recorded strong attacking stats last season with seven goals and eight assists, impressive for a player traditionally recognized for his defensive skills.
Against Old Trafford, Rice notably advanced to finish off a driven cross inside the box. Similarly, against PSV, his late arrival in the box to head in a Sterling pass stood out. This evolution echoes the versatile roles of legends like Lampard, Gerrard, or Robson, each adapting their game with age.
Ali Tweedale from Opta captures this transition well. He highlights Rice’s heavy involvement against Old Trafford, noting his progression into the final third alongside impactful runs and multiple entries into the opposition’s box. All of which indicate his potential fit as a more attacking midfielder, rather than being pegged solely as a defensive anchor.
Looking forward, Merino’s role may be temporary, merely a stopgap in Arsenal’s trying times. Come summer, Tierney, Sterling, and perhaps Zinchenko might move on, suggesting current tactics are more about patching holes than testing new strategies.
Amidst the debate over Rice’s role in Arsenal’s future, this makeshift period provides valuable insight for Arteta. While it isn’t a permanent solution, there’s something to be gleaned from Rice’s reinvention, pointing towards a promising direction for the team’s next evolution beyond the immediate challenges.
